N. O. HVPERICINEjE. 143 



length of the ovary, equalling the stamens. Capsule J in., 

 egg-shaped. 



Parts used :— The leaves and the whole plant. 



Use :-— It is recommended in Arabian medicine as a vermi- 

 fuge, also used to cure piles, prolapsus uteri et ani (Honning- 

 berger, Vol. TL, p. 289,. The herb is bitter and astringent, 

 and was recommended by Arabic writers as a detersive, reso- 

 lutive, anthelmintic, diuretic and emmenagogue and, externally, 

 as excitant, but it does not appear to be used in modern 

 medicine (Watt). 



The plant is certainly astringent and aromatic ; taken 

 internally, it occasionally acts as a purgative, but not powerfully. 

 In country districts, it is sometimes used still as a medicine, and 

 oil, in which the shoots or flowering tops have been steeped, is 

 sold by herbalists as " oleum hyperial." The leaves have been 

 used as a vermifuge (Sowerby's English Botany). 



N. 0. GUTTIFERJE. 

 Gareinia Mangostana, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 260, 

 Roxb. 441. 



Vern. :— Mangustan (Bomb.); Mengkop (Burm.). 



Eng. : —The Mangosteen. 



Habitat : — Cultivated in some parts of the Madras Presi- 

 dency, as at Barliyar in the Nilghiri Hills ; Tenasserim. Malay 

 Peninsula (doubtfully Avild) Gamble says it has never been 

 successfully grown in Northern India as it requires, a very hot, 

 moist and uniform climate. " Home unknown ; cultivated in 

 moist regions of tropical Asia" (Brandis). Found in Cochin- 

 China, Java, Singapore. 



An evergreen, small, conical tree, 20-30 ft, glabrous. 

 Branches many and decussate. Under favourable circumstances, 

 says Brandis, the tree attains 60ft. and more. " Bark dark 

 brown or almost charcoal-black, inner bark yellowish. Wood 

 brick-red, hard. Pores moderate-sized, scanty, single or in small 

 groups surrounded by loose tissue, the groups very irregularly 



