534 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



The juice is used externally in bruises and burns, also to 



cure superficial ulcers. As a styptic it is used on fresh cuts 



and abrasions (Thornton in Watt's Dictionary). 



Malic acid from Crassulacece.— The acid was prepared chiefly from 

 Echeveria secunda glauca and Sedum purpurescens (Bryophyllum calycinum 

 yields more, namely, about 0*23 per cent, of the leaves, but is less easily 

 obtainable) by extraction with boiling water, precipitation of the lead salt 

 and decomposition of this with hydrogen sulphide. The residue left on eva- 

 poration of the aqueous solution, when dried at 110° until constant in weight, 

 has the composition C 8 H 8 G- 8 ; it represents an anhydride of the acid, for the 

 salts prepared from it are derived from a dibasic acid, C 4 H 6 5 . The calcium 

 hydrogen salt is usually amorphous, but was once obtained in regular octahedra 

 with 6 H 2 O; the corresponding salt of ordinary malic acid crystallises in 

 rhombic octahedra. The barium salt is anhydrous, whereas ordinary barium 

 malate crystallises with 1 H 2 O. The silver salt is anhydrous, whereas 

 ordinary silver malate contains 5 H 2 O. The lead salt crystallises with 3 H 2 O. 

 No ammonium hydrogen salt could be prepared, whereas ordinary malic acid 

 forms a well crystallised salt of this composition. The dimethylic salt was 

 prepared from the anhydride and methylic alcohol by Anschiitz's method ; it 

 distils at 162° under 25m m. pressure : after this has passed over, a second 

 product was obtained, to which reference will be made later.— J. Ch. S. 1898 

 A.I., p. 513 et seq. 



N. 0. DROSERACE^J. 



485. Drosera peltata, Sm. h.f.b.l, i. 424. 



Vera. :-Mukha-jali (H.); Chitra (Pb.) 

 Habitat: — Throughout India. 



A perennial herb. Stem erect, leafy, 3-12in. high, simple 

 or corymbose upward. Leaves alternate, long-petioled, lunate- 

 peltate. Racemes subterminal. Pedicels i-Jin. long. Flowers 

 white, sepals ovate, glabrous, erose or fimbriate. Styles 3, fim 

 briate. Seeds obovoid. Testa prominently reticuluted. 



Part used : — The leaf. 



Use : —The leaves of this curious and insectivorous plant, 

 bruised and mixed with salt, are used as a blister in Kumaon. 

 This same practice prevails, however, in Kanawar, without the 

 use of salt. All the members of this family have a bitter, acrid 

 and caustic flavor. If placed in milk they rapidly curdle it 

 (Watt). 



