42 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



to abscesses, clearing away or maturing the inflammation,/: and 

 that, prepared as an infusion, it is a valuable emenagogue. 



He also states that the perfumed oil prepared from the 

 flowers is a useful application in cephalalgia, ophthalmia^ and 

 gout, and that the oil of the seeds is rubbed over the abdomen 

 to relieve flatulence. In Dacca, the juice of the leaves is given 

 with honey in cases of Colic (Taylor). 



In the Pharmacopoeia of India, the bark is described as 

 having febrifuge properties. Dr. Kanay Lal Dey considers 

 it to be an excellent substitute for guaiacum. 



In the Gazetteer of Orissa, the bark is described as stimu- 

 lant, expectorant and astringent ; the seeds and fruit are said 

 to be useful for healing cracks in the feet, and the root is des- 

 cribed as purgative. 



Dr. aIoodeen Sheriff considers the flowers to be stimu- 

 lant, antispasmodic, tonic, stomachic and carminative; and 

 describes an infusion, decoction and tincture ; particularly 

 recommending the last. 



Chemistry — " The essential oil from yellow champaca flowers {Miclielia 

 chfimpaca L.) has the specific gravity 0*904— 0*9107 at 30730° C., nD= 1*4640 

 — 1-4688 at 30°C, ester value 124—146, and ester value after acetylating 

 199. When distilled in a vacuum it polymerises. It contains isoeugenol, 

 benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, cineol and p-cresol methyl 

 ether. The white flowers (Michelia longifolia Bl.) yield an oil with the 

 following characters :— specific gravity 0-897, ester value 180*0, tiDi=T4470 

 at 30 C C. It contains linalool, methyleugnol, methylethylactic acid probably 

 in the form of the methyl or ethyl ester, and a phenolic substance possessing 

 an odour closely resembling that of thymol. The yellow flowers contain a 

 ketone inciting at 165°—-166 C M and yielding ahydrazonc C16, H20 04 : N. N.H 

 C6. H5, m. pt. 16rC."-J. Ch, I. Jan. 31st, 1912, p. 90. 



31. M. Nilagirica, Zferik. H.F;BR.r., 1:44. 



. Vern. ;--Pola champa (H.) ; Shempangan, sempagura, stiem- 



bugha (Tarn.).' Walu sapu (Sinhalese/. ■•■...... 



..Habitat:- -Higher mountains of the VVestern Peninsula, 

 Ceylon, 



A hand^uJiib moderate-sized tree or shrub at [high, eleva- 

 tions.. Young parts silky, particularly buds. Bark brown, i 

 in. thick, cleft but not deeply, into small rectangular, plates. 



