TEGETABLE AVAX. 293 



degree the unctuosity of bees' wax, and somewhat of the brittleness 

 of resin. Its sp. gr. is greater, as in the solid state it sinks in 

 water, whereas bees' wax floats upon it, and is not so easily 

 bleached. It has been estimated by Dana* that the composition 

 of these berries is as follows : — 



Wax 32 



Eeddish-brown resin, soluble in acetic 



acid 5 



Black powder 15 



Amylaceous matter 47 



99 



Candles manufactured from the wax diffuse a delightful odour 

 when burning. 



The odour of the leaves of both the following plants is 

 approaching that of the English Bog IMyrtle (Myrica gale) : — 



Vitex Negundo, Linn., Wight, Icones, t. 519 ; Eheede, Hort. 

 Mai., ii., t. 12. 



Vitex trifolia, Lin., Bot. Mag., t. 2187 ; Eheede, Hort. Mai., ii., 

 t. 11. 



The Vitex is common throughout India and Ceylon, and its 

 medicinal properties recognised, t The two shrubs, the properties 

 of which appear to be identical, are described by Sanskrit writers 

 under the names Nirgundi, Sindhuvara, Sephalika, etc. The 

 vernacular names in Hindustanee are Sambhalu and Msinda ; this 

 last also applies in Bengalee. Other synonyms are given in 

 " Pharmacographia Indica," iii., p. 73. 



V. Negundo is the Lagondium of Eumphius. In India its 

 leaves are often placed between the leaves of books, to preserve 

 them from insects. 



V. trifolia (which differs but slightly from V. Negundo) is 

 described as a shrub (Xat. Ord. Verhenctcece) of variable habit. It 

 is met with in patches. As a general character the branchlets and 

 underside of the leaves are white, with a fine tomentum, the leaves 

 petioled, 3 to 5 foliolate; leaflets lanceolate, long, acuminated, 

 entire or coarsely cut and crenated ; panicle terminal, pyramidal ; 



* Journ. de Pharm., Ixxxix., p. 154. 



t Boutins, Deseasesof India, p. 226 ; Fleming, in As. Res., xi. ; Ingledew, 

 in Edin. Med. and Surg. Journ., 1817, p. 530 ; Pharm. of India, p. 163. 



