188 • LEGUMINOS^. 



Marseilles. From the French possessions on the Senegal, 24 millions of 

 kilogr. were exported in 1876. 



The oil is exported from India where the ground-nut is also cultivated, 

 though not on so large a scale as in Western Africa. In Europe it is 

 manufactured chiefly at Marseilles, London, Hamburg and Berlin. The 

 yield of the seeds varies from 42 to nearly 50 per cent. The softness 

 of the seeds greatly facilitates their exhaustion, whether by mechanical 

 power or by the action of bisulphide of carbon or other solvent. 



Uses — Good arachis oil may be employed in pharmacy in the same 

 way as olive oil, for which it is a valuable substitute, though more 

 prone to rancidity. It has been introduced into the Fhannacopceia of 

 India, and is generally used instead of olive oil in the Indian Govern- 

 ment establishments. Its largest application is for industrial purposes, 

 especially in soap-making. 



RADIX ABRI. 



I^ulian Liquorice ; F. Liane a reglisse, Reglisse d' Atneriqtie. 



Botanical Origin — Ahrus jyrecatoHus L., a twining woody shrub^ 

 indigenous to India, but now found in all tropical countries. 



History — The plant is mentioned in the Sanskrit medical writings 

 of Susruta, whence we may infer that it has long been employed in 

 India. Its resemblance to liquorice was remarked by Sloane (1700), who 

 called it Phaseolus glycyrrhites. As a substitute for liquorice, the root has 

 been often employed by residents in the tropical countries of both 

 hemispheres. It was introduced into the Bengal Pha rinacoijosia of 1 844, 

 and into the FharniacoiDoeia of India of 1868. 



The seeds, of the size of a small pea, well known for their polish and 

 beautiful black and red colours, have given their name of Rettl to a 

 weight (= 2yV grains) used by Hindu jewellers and druggists. 



Description — The root is long, woody, tortuous and branching. The 

 stoutest piece in our possession is as thick as a man's finger, but most 

 of it is much more slender. The cortical layer is extremely thin and of 

 a light brown or almost reddish hue. The woody part breaks with a 

 shoi't fibrous fracture exhibiting a light yellow interior. The root has a 

 peculiar, disagreeable odour, and a bitterish acrid flavour leaving a 

 faintly sweet after-taste. When cut into short lengths it has a slight 

 resemblance to liquorice, but may easily be distinguished by means of 

 the microscope. 



Mr. Moodeen Sheriff",^ who says he has often examined the root of 

 Ahrus both fresh and dried, remarks that it is far from abounding in 

 sugar as generally considered ; — that it does not possess any sweetness 

 at all until it attains a certain size, and that even then its sweet taste is 



^ Fig. in Bentley and Trinien, Medicinal den, Ceylon, and to Mr. Prestoe of the 



Plants, part 25 (1878). Botanical Garden, Trinidad. The last 



-Supplement to the Pharmacopceia of named gentleman remarks — "I do not find 



India, Madras, 1869. 16.— The author has any liquorice property in the root, even 



kindly sent us specimens of the root. We fresh, but it is very strong in the green 



are also indebted for authentic samples to leaves. " 

 Mr. Thwaites of the Royal Botanical Gar- 



