492 LILIACE2E. 



, surface is striated longitudinally, besides wliicli there is mostly 

 one broad and deep furrow running in the same direction. 



They are usually translucent, and from yellowish-brown to 



in colour. In substance the bulbs are dense and 



horny. After several hours' maceration in water, they become 



soft, opaque, and of a slaty or purplish hue, and increase 



greatly in volume, regaining their natural size and form. If, 



in this state, a bulb be cut longitudinally into two equal 



portions, it will be seen to consist of a single fleshy envelope 



or scale of excessive thickness whose edges overlap each 



other; this scale surrounding an elongated, flattened bud. 

 {Hanhury.) 



Chemical composition. —The powdered bulbs, unless kept in 

 well- stoppered bottles, readily absorb moisture from the air. A 

 decoction is not coloured with iodine, but is precipitated with 

 solutions of ferric chloride and plumbic acetate. No reaction 

 for glucose is produced by boiling with Fehling's solution. 

 The ash contained manganese. The powdered bulbs afforded 

 moisture 8-11 per cent., mucilage (water extract) 80-80, 

 cellulose 7-14, and mineral matter 3-95 per cent. . 



Allium Xiphopetalum, Aitch. et. Baker, Trans, Linn. 

 Soc. 2nd Ser. Botany, Vol. Ill, Pt. 1, pi. ^^ii., yields the 

 Ihum-el-bari or "wild garHc" of the Arabs. It has a bulb 

 resembling Badshah Salep in shape and appearance, but much 

 smaller, a powerful garlic odour, and is much used for pickling 

 by the natives. Large quantities are imported. It appears to 



In Persia it is known as Sir-i-piazak or " onion garHc." 

 Aitchison found it growing abundantly in the Badghis. In 

 iiombay It IS best known as Muscat garlic, from its being 

 shipped from that port. 



Alhum ascalonicum, the Shallot, is called by the 

 natives Ek-k/mda-lasun or Mla-kali-lasan, " one-clove garHc," 

 ana 18 used by them to cure earache, a small piece being placed 

 m the meatus. It is also fried in butter and preserved iu 

 honey as an aphrodisiac 



