ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS 163 



The bruised leaves are applied locally to contusions to re- 

 duce the swelling. The juice is used externally as a rubefa- 

 cient in rheumatic affections of the joints. In Concan they 

 use a decoction of the root for diarrhoea. The flower buds are 

 chewed with buyo, for intermittent fever and the juice is ap- 

 plied locally for itch. 



Peckolt and Geuther isolated from the bark the glucosido, 

 agoyiiadin (C 10 H u O fi ), which crystallizes in silky crystals fusible 

 at 155°, slightly soluble in water, alcohol, bisulphuret of car- 

 bon, ether and benzine ; soluble in nitric or sulphuric acids. 

 In solution it is a golden yellow soon changing to green. 

 Boiled in a dilute acid it splits into glucose and an undeter- 

 mined substance. Oudeman obtained plumierie acid (C ]0 H 10 O r ) 

 from the milky juice deprived of its resin ; the acid exists as 

 microscopic, needle-like crystals, soluble in boiling water, alco- 

 hol and ether. It melts and decomposes at 130°. 



Botanical Description. — A tree, 12-18° high, commonly 

 cultivated for ornament, well known in the islands, almost 

 constantly bearing fragrant flowers, but rarely bearing fruit. 

 Branches forked and peculiarly stumpy at the ends. Leaves 

 alternate, broad lanceolate, entire, glabrous, the apices curved 

 downward. Petioles short. Flowers creamy white, light yel- 

 low in the throat. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla twisted, funnel- 

 form, o-lobed. Stamens 5, hidden in depths of the tube. 

 Anthers dart- or arrow-formed. Style very short, thickened 

 above. Stigma 2-parted. Two horizontal, cylindrical and 

 long follicles joined at their bases, with numerous seeds in hol- 

 low receptacles, each seed encircled by a wing. 



Alstonia scholaris, Br. (Eehites scholaris, L. and Blanco.) 



Nom. Yulg. — Dita, Tag.; DaUopawen, Hoc; Dita or 

 Alstonia Tree, Eng. 



Uses. — The trunk bark is a febrifuge of great importance; 

 it is official in the Pharmacopoeia of India and is widely used 



