N. 0. MALVACE^. 165 



cell. Carpels numerous, ultimately separating from a short 

 torus. Seed solitary in each carpel, ascending. 



Parts used : — The flowers, carpels, leaves and root. 



Uses : — The Mahomedans describe it as a suppurative and 

 emollient ; they use the leaves as a poultice and for fomenta- 

 tions ; mixed with oil, the leaves and flowers are applied to 

 burns and parts bitten by venomous reptiles. The root boiled 

 with sugar is prescribed in coughs and irritable condition of the 

 intestines and bladder. The decoction is also used as an emol- 

 lient enema, and in making ointments (Dymock.) 



The root should be gathered in the autumn from plants 

 not less than two years old. 



Emollient cataplasms are prepared from the rounded root. 



The root -contains a little starch, nearly twenty per cent 

 of gum or mucilage, some uncrystallizable sugar, and a crys- 

 tallizable principle, besides other unimportant constituents. The 

 mucilage lies like the fecula in small cells, in the form of minute 

 grains, which may be obtained pure by washing the chopped 

 root in rectified spirit, and allowing them to subside. A yel- 

 lowish white powder is thus procured, consisting of microscopic 

 transparent grains, which seem intermediate between true gum 

 and perfect starch. The crystalline principle "althaein " seems 

 to be identical with the "asparagin " of asparagus. (Sowerby's 

 English Botany.) 



Betaine can be obtained from the aqueous extract of the root of Althcea 

 officinalis after removing the asparagine by precipitating it with nitric acid 

 and sodium phosphomolybdate ; the free base obtained by treating the preci- 

 pitate with barium hydroxide forms colourless crystals, is soluble in water 

 and alcohol, and insoluble in ether. The hydrochloride is easily crystallised, 

 and does not change on exposure to the air. With potassium dichromate 

 solution and hydrochloric acid, betaine does not exhibit any colour reaction. 

 It is precipitated by picric acid, zinc chloride, and auric chloride, but not 

 bj tannin ; the aurochloride, C 5 H u N0 2 ,HAuCl 4 , crystallises in microscopic 

 plates, or in short crystals arranged in the form of a cross. 



J. Ch. S, Vol. 76 part I. p. 4. 



144. A. rosea, Linn. H.F.B.I., I. 319. 



Vern.: — The same as for A. officinalis, Linn. 

 S??^.:— Holly-hock. 



