216 LAVRINEm. 



of fat, 2 per cent, of volatile oil, and 1-5 per cent, of 

 resin. The expressed fat was analysed by A. Staub (1879), 

 wbo determined, besides volatile oil and cblorophyll, tte 

 presence of a little acetic acid and tbe glycerides of oleic, 

 linoleic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Laurie acid, 

 QiiJH'^-^O-, discovered by Marsson (1842), bas been foimd in 

 niany vegetable and a few animal fats ; it melts at 43-5° 0.,and 

 volatilizes with tbe vapours of boiling water (Goergey, 1848). 

 Schmidt and Roemer found little free acid in the freslily- 

 expressed oil, but the fruit contained 2 to 3 per cent, of fatty 

 acids. (National Disp.) 



Cassytha filiformis, Linn., Bheede, Hort Mai tii., 

 t. 44 ; A'kasvel [Mar.), Amarbeli [Hind.), A'kasavalli [Sans-l'i^ 

 a common parasite on bushes ; it consists of a tangled mass oi 

 tough dark- green stems, branched, marked longitudinally with 

 delicate pale green lines, the largest are- the size of a crow-quill; 

 the branches are provided with small round suckers, like those 

 of the common dodder. Sections of the stem show a strong 

 fibro-vascular layer and loose central pith. The iruit i 

 globular, of the size of a pea, and surmounted by the remains 



of the sepals ; on removing the outer envelope, which is toug , 



the 



an inner envelope is exposed, which consists of two layers, t^ 

 outer cartilaginous, the inner fleshy and lined with wmte 

 hairs, each containing a delicate spiral filament; within t i 

 central cavity is a third delicate membranous envelope covere 

 with hairs, of a similar description, and containing the ovui • 

 The whole plant is used in native practice as an altera- 

 tive in bilious affections and for piles. In Southern Africa 

 it is said to be used for washing the' head, destroying 

 vermin, and making the hair grow. In Senegarabia it i' 

 employed in urethritis, and in Cochin-China as an anti- 

 syphilitic. 



Chemical composition.—M. Greshoff has detected an alkaloid 

 in this plant, having the followino- colour reactions : sulphuric 



o -^ ^^...^„j.^^ 



acid faint red, Erdmann's reagent (sulphuric acid mixed 

 with a little nitric acid) blue, nitric acid red-brown 



