86 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



The Ratanhias contain tannin in abundance, a red extractive principle 

 and a kind of sugar supposed to be produced by some chemical 

 change in the tannin, amylaceous and gummy matter, salts and an 

 acid.^ The tannic principle is varied in character, according to the 

 sorts and varieties ; it gives to these roots their active properties as 

 tonics, astringents, hemostatics, antiblennorrhagics, antidiarrhsetics, 

 antiputrids, and odontalgics. The wood and bark of the root are 

 used, as is also a dry extract very similar to kino. The plants are 

 also applied to industrial purposes. An infusion of seve Kramerias, 

 of a blood-red, has been employed in adulterating port wine, and 

 it may be used also in preparing skins. In tropical Asia several 

 species of Xanthophyllum are valued for the qualities of their wood, 

 q&t^&qibRj X. ArnoUianum^ from India, and X. vitellinum^ from Java. 

 Some Polygalas are cultivated as ornamental. These are generally 

 Cape species, often with opposite leaves, and large violet 

 flowers (flg. 104-106), which usually open towards the end of the 

 winter in our green- houses and hot-houses. 



^ Satanhine (C ^^ H 12 AzO '), contained in ^ Wight, iZZ. i. 50. — Eosenth. op. «'*. 790. — 



several American extracts is said not to exist in X.flaveseens Wight et Akn. (nee Koxb.). 



the root (Cotton). The existence of krameric -^ Walp. Eep. i. 248. — Eosenth. op. cit. 1153, 



acid is actually considered doubtful (Ger- Jackia vitellina Bl. Bijdr. 61. 

 hardt). 



