N. 0. LEGUMINOS^. 473 



This plant, like several others of the same genus, owes its medicinal 

 activity to the presence of chrysophanic acid, sometimes called Rhein, form 

 C 14 H 6 2 /7 (O r H. 2 ) This substance belongs to the anthracene group of carbon 

 compounds, and, like alizarin, is regarded as dioxyan thraquinone, 

 C 14 H 6 2 " jofrr- It crystallizes in six-sided prisms, is tasteless, and may 

 be sublimed without decomposition ; it is contained in Goa powder (50 per 

 cent.), rhubarb, most varieties of dock, Lichen orcella, Permelia parieMna, 

 Cassia alata, C. occidentalis, C. Tora, &c. As met with in commerce, it is in 

 the form of a light-yellow poder, soluble in benzol, chloroform, turpentine, 

 and in the fixed and volatile oils to a large extent, sparingly soluble in ether 

 and alcohol, and insoluble in water, glycerine, and in solid paraffin. It is dis- 

 solved by sulphuric and nitric acids (in the latter to a less extent), by caustic 

 potash and by ammonia ; fuses at 123°3 C, and boils at 232°2 C. At the latter 

 temperature it is decomposed into a dark-green resinous substance, which is 

 largely soluble in ether. Oil Jecoris dissolves twice its weight of the acid, 

 yielding a mixture containing 70 per cent. Oil olivse, Oil Pini sylvest., 

 Creasotum, Oil Terebinth., Oil Lavand., and Vaseline, dissolve readily their 

 own weight of acid, yielding mixtures containing 52 per cent. 



" Taking advantage of its solubility in the fixed oils, a considerable 

 saving may be effected by preparing ointments direct from Araroba. Oil 

 olivse thoroughly exhausts that substance, yielding the acid after removal of 

 the oil by ether in a state of purity. The Singhalese doctors take advantage 

 of this fact, and fry the leaves of Cassia alata, 0. Tora, C. occidentalis, and C. 

 Sophera in gingelly or castor oil. The strained product is used as an oint- 

 ment for ring-worm and other skin diseases." (F. Laker Macmillan, Phar. 

 Journ., 15th March 1879.) 



420. C. obtusifolia, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 263. 

 Syn. : — Senna Tora and toroides, Eoxb. 351. 

 Eng. : — The foetid Cassia. 

 Sans. : — Prabiinatha, dadamari, dadmaclan. 



Vern. : — Chakunda, panevar (H. & B.) ; Qhakaoda arak. 

 (Santal) ; Pawar, panwar, pawas. chakunda (Pb.); Panwar 

 (N.-W.P.) takala, tarota, takla, tankli (Mar.) ; Kawario, kovariza 

 (Gnz.) ; Tankala, kowaria (Bom.) ; Tarota (Duk.) ; Ushittagarai, 

 tarotak Tarn.;; Tagarisha-chettu (Tel.). 



Habitat : — Found everywhere in Bengal, and widely spread 

 throughout India. 



An annual weed growing up into an undershrub. Leaves 

 distinctly petioled, furnished with glands on the main rachis 

 between the leaflets ; glabrous. Leaflets 6, ovate-oblong, per- 

 fect, glaucous, membranous, l-l}in. Stipules large, linear sub- 



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