N. 0. LEGUMIN0SJE. 485 



There is a decided difference in the compositon of the shelled and unshelled 

 seeds The shells contain the undesirable constituents, namely, the tannin 

 matter and fibre, and the kernels represent a nutritious food, white in appear- 

 ance and with no disagreeable odour and taste. 



The oil obtained by ether is thick and light yellow in colour. It solidifies 

 at 15° C, and gave the following constants : — 



Acid value ... ... ... ... 0*84 



Saponification value ... ... ... 183° 



Iodine value ... ... ... 871 



Fatty acids... ... ... ... 94-9 



Melting point ... ... ... 46° 



The fatty acids crystallised twice from alcohol afforded an acid melting at 

 74*°5, resembling arachidic acid of ground-nut. 



Elaidin reaction gives a buttery consistence. The oil is semidrying, 

 forming a skin only after 12 days. (Agricultural Ledger, 1907, No. 2 pp. 15-16.) 



431. Bauhinia tomentosa, Linn., h.f.b.l, ii. 275 ; 

 Roxb. 345. 



Vern. : — Kachnar (H.); Kanchani (Tarn, and Tel.) Asundro 

 (Guz.); Chamal (Konkan); Pivalakanchan, Apta (Mar.) ; 

 Esamaduga (Madras). " The vernacular names Kachnar, 

 Kanchan, applied to more than one species of Bauhinia " 

 (Moodeen Sheriff). 



Habitat: — N. W. Provinces to Ceylon. 



An erect large shrub, with downy branches. Leaf broader 

 than long, not cordate, coriaceous, l-3in. long, pubescent be- 

 neath, divided one-third down into two rounded lobes, 7- 

 nerved. Flowers in pairs, on short, usually leaf-opposed 

 peduncles, bracteoles linear. Calyx spathaceous, lin. long, 

 shortly trifid at top, pubescent. Petals sulphur-yellow, the up- 

 permost with a dark purplish blotch at base, If in. long, not 

 spreading, but forming a bell-shaped Corolla. Fertile stamens 

 10. Style J-|in. Pod dehiscent, finely pubescent, distinctly 

 stalked, 4-5 by i-fin., 6-10-seeded, glabrous; seeds small. 



Use : — The bruised bark is externally applied on tumors and 

 wounds (T. N. Mukerjee). The native practitioners in South- 

 ern India prescribe the small dried buds and young flowers in 

 dysenteric affections (Ainslie). On the Malabar Coast, a de- 

 coction of the root bark is administered in inflammation of the 

 liver (Rheede). The decoction of the root bark is also used as a 

 vermifuge (Surg. Hill, Manbhum). 



