414 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



is felt. Occasionally some small vesicles or pimples appear ; 

 and if these be allowed to remain undisturbed they dry up, 

 leaving a dark spot of pigmentary matter, which forms as it 

 were a nucleus. From this point, as well as from the margin 

 of the patch, pigmentary matters gradually develop which ulti- 

 mately coalesce with each other, and thus the whole patch 

 disappears. It is also remarkable that fresh patches are arrest- 

 ed by its application (Ph. J., Sept. 24th, 1881). Extensively 

 tried in Bombay by Bhao Daji and others as a remedy in leprosy, 

 and, I believe, with some success- Several species of Psoralea 

 have been used medicinally in America, and have been found 

 to act as gently stimulating and tonic nervines. Tried in 

 leprosy with a certain amount of success (Dymock.) 



The seeds yield 20*15 per cent, of a thick, reddish-brown oil to ether. 



Fat : Specific gravity at 100°, 0*9107 ; acid value, 3918 ; saponification value, 

 204*6 ; Reichert-Meissl value, 6*9 ; iodine value, 79*9 ; unsaponificable, 1*73 ; 

 butyro-refractometer at 25°, 79*5°. 



Fatty acids (insoluble) : per cent 88*3 ; melting point, 32-8 ; iodine value, 

 83*06 ; neutralisation value, 192*4 ; mean molecular weight, 291*5. (A. K. Menon.) 

 {Agricultural Ledger 1911-12— No. 5, p. 139.) 



359. Golutea arboreseens, Linn. Var Nepalensis, 



H.F.B.I., II. 103. 



Vern. : — Braa (Ladak). 



Eng. : — The Bladder Senna. 



Habitat : — Arid valleys of the inner Himalayas. 



A sub-glabrous shrub, 6-10 feet high, unarmed. Leaves 

 imparipinnate ; leaflets 9-13, obovate, pale green, J-|- in. 

 long, often emarginate, obscurely silky in the young state. 

 Racemes as large as the leaves, axillary, laxly 3-4-flowered. 

 Flowers yellow, showy. Calyx i-Jin. Corolla f inch long; 

 standard furnished at the base with two nipple-shaped papillae. 

 Pod 2-2in. long, faintly downy when young, splitting at tip 

 before ripening. 



Use : — The leaves of this plant are purgative, and are used 

 to adulterate officinal senna. (U. S Dispensatory). 



