CASUAEINEjE, 357 



Microscopic structure.— Within the suberous layer is a 

 remarkable stratum of stony cells ; the parenchyma throughout 

 is loaded with red colouring matter, and permeated by large 

 laticiferous vessels, from which a gummy latex exudes when 

 the bark is soaked in water. 



- ^ 



Chemical composition. — The bark of M. Nagi contains 14 per 

 cent, of tannin, which gives a purplish colour with ferric salts 

 but the tincture and decoction ^\\e a greenish colour owin^ 

 to the presence of colouring matter in the bark. The ash of 

 the air-dried bark amounts to 7'17 per cent. 



When the bark is exhausted by water and the water eva- 

 porated, a brittle vshining extract is obtained of a reddish-brown 



colour, which contains 60 per cent, of tannin with some 

 saccharine matter and salts. 



Commerce. — The bazaars are supplied from Northern India; 

 about 50 tons of the bark are collected annually in the Kumaon 

 forests. It is always obtainable in native drug shops. Value 

 about Rs. 2 per maund of 41 pounds. 



CASUARINE^. 



CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA, Forst. 



Fig. — Beddome, Forester's Man., t. 226. Tinian Pine 

 {Eng.), Filao de I'lnde (Fr.). 



j- 



Hab. — East side of the Bay of Bengal. Cultivated else- 

 where. The bark, leaves, and seeds. 



Vernacular, — Sinyu (Burm.), Chouk [Tarn.), Sarva {TeL), 

 Kdsrike [Mysore), Am [MaL)y Vildyati-saru {Mar.). 



History, Uses, &C. — This tree is distributed through 

 Chittagong, Burma, the Malay and Pacific Islands, and 

 Australia, and is much cultivated on the coasts of India. In 



