92 FRUITS 



The student should observe 



(a) The comparatively smooth hard rind to which (in the sliced 



fruit) the reddish pulp firmly adheres, 



(b) The numerous carpels, 



(c) The hairy seeds embedded in mucilage. 



Constituents. As far as is known the principal constituent of bael 

 fruit is mucilage. Traces of tannin are present in the ripe but not in 

 the unripe fruit. 



Substitutes* Several substitutes for bael have been met with, viz. : 



Mangosteen fruits (Garcinia Magnostdna, Linne, N.O. Guttiferce) ; 

 these may be distinguished by the darker rind to which the pulp does 

 not firmly adhere, and by the wedge-shaped, radiate stigmas ; they 

 contain crystalline mangostine, tannin, and resin. 



Wood apple (Feronia elephantum, Correa, N.O. Rutacece). The fruit 

 is five-lobed but one-celled, and has a rough exterior. 



Pomegranate rind may be distinguished by its astringent taste and 

 the triangular impressions of the seeds. 



5. In the fresh state Indian bael is a pleasant refreshing fruit 

 with astringent, refrigerant properties which render it valuable in the 

 treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. As imported it is probably 

 useless, but a liquid extract from the fresh fruit appears to possess its 

 specific effects. 



BITTER ORANGE 



(Seville Orange, Fructus Aurantii) 



Source, &c. The bitter or Seville orange is the fruit of Citrus 

 Aurantium, var. Bigaradia, Hooker filius (C. Aurantium, Linne ; 

 C. vulgaris, Risso, N.O. Rutacece), a small tree, probably a native of 

 north-eastern India, but cultivated in most warm countries. In 

 Europe it is grown in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, 

 whither it was probably brought by the Arabs, as it was unknown to 

 the Greeks and Romans. The fruit is collected before it is quite ripe, 

 packed in boxes and exported, the ripening being completed during 

 the voyage. Bitter oranges are shipped chiefly from southern Spain 

 (Seville and Malaga) and from Sicily (Messina and Palermo), Seville 

 oranges being considered to be the best for medicinal use. 



In addition to the fresh fruit the dried peel is also largely imported 

 from Malta, Spain, and Morocco. 



Indian orange peel (Cortex Aurantii Indicus) is obtained from 

 varieties of Citrus Aurantium, Linne, grown in India and Ceylon ; it 

 closely resembles batter-orange peel and may be employed in its place 

 in India and the Eastern divisions of the Empire. 



