OLDEXLAXDIA COEYMBOSA 141 



Naylor extracted another principle which he found combined 

 with the alkaloid in a soda ^precipitate of the latter ; it is a 

 product of the decomposition of a glucose, the formula of which 

 is C^-H^gOj. This compound remains insoluble when the alka- 

 loid is treated with ether. Repeated boiling in alcohol renders 

 it colorless. It is bitter, soluble in alcohol and dilute acids ; 

 insoluble in ether and chloroform. Reaction, neutral. 



BotaxicaIj Desceiptiox. — A large tree, with leaves oppo- 

 site, oval, entire, acute, downy. Petioles long, flat above, with 

 2 stipules. Flowers axillary, in compound verticillate racemes. 

 Calyx adherent, with 5 promptly deciduous teeth which leave 

 a scar that also disappears. Corolla much longer than the calyx, 

 funnel-form, the limb 5-cleft. Stamens 5, inserted near the 

 middle of the tube. Filaments rudimentary. Anthers 2- 

 celled. Style longer than the corolla. Stigma globose. Seed- 

 vessel rather rough, ovoid, flattened, of 2 compartments, where 

 are inserted numerous seeds, imbricated, circular, encircled by 

 an entire wing. 



Habitat. — Angat and the woods of San Mateo. Blooms 

 in August. (P. Blanco states further that this tree grows to a 

 height of about 3 yards in Angat and that it exhales a strong 

 odor resembling that of vinegar at times, and again like that of 

 tobacco.) 



Oldenlandia corjonbosa, L. (0. biflora, Lam.; 0. rauwua, 

 Roxb.; 0. herhacea and tserabrida, DC; 0. bunjumiana, Mig.) 



]S[o^f. VuLG. — Doubtful. 



Uses. — The Sanscrit writers often mention this plant as an 

 important remedy for the fevers due, according to their theo- 

 ries, to disordered bile, i. e., remittent fevers, accompanied by 

 gastric irritability and nervous depression. The entire plant is 

 used to make a decoction, often combined with aromatics. 

 Dymock observed in Goa that this plant could be gotten in all 

 the shops of the herb-venders, and that it was widely used as 



