718 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



value, 129-8 to 149*93 ; Reichert-Meissl value, 0-0 ; refraction at 40°, 65'2 ; acid 

 value, 076 to 20-02; optical activity in 200 m.m. tube + 4' to + 14' ; fatty 

 acids, per cent. 95"4 ; solidifying point, 16°; neutralisation value, 199. 



The saturated fatty acids contained in this oil consist of palmitic and 

 stearic acids. Le Sueur found the liquid fatty acids to be oleic and linolic 

 acids. Tylaikoff confirms the presence of oleic and linolic and linolenic acids. 

 Lewkowitsch determined the amount of unsaponifiable matter in several 

 samples to be 1*5 per cent., and the true acetyl value he found to be 161, 12-85 

 and 12-78. (Agricultural Ledger 1911-12— No. 5). 



689 — -Dicoma tomentosa, Cass., h.f.b.i., hi. 387. 



Vern.: — Navananji-cha-pala (Bel gaum). 



Habitat: — North-West India ; Dhoulpoor ; Scind ; Western 

 Peninsula ; from the Concan southwards, in gravelly places. 



An erect annual, 10-18in. high, much branched, clothed with 

 white cottony wool ; branches terete. Leaves sessile, linear or 

 linear ovate, obtuse or acute, quite entire, l-3in., glabrate or 

 cottony above, nerves obscure. Heads many, subaxillary, glab- 

 rous. Spines of involucre-bracts yellowish, shining. Bracts \-\ in. 

 subulate, straight, glabrous. Corolla iin., outer pappus elastic, 

 shining, bristles slender, inner ^in. long, narrowly subulate, 

 lanceolate, pale-brown, strongly ribbed, membranous and hyaline, 

 margins undulate. Achenes broad and short, |-in. long, turbi- 

 nate, densely silky. 



Use :— The herb is strongly bitter, and is used in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Belgaum as a febrifuge, especially in the febrile 

 attacks to which women are subject after childbirth (Peters). 



690 — Gichorium Intybus, Linn., h.f.b.i., hi. 391. 



Vern.: — Kasni (H.) ; Kashini-virai (Tarn.) ; Kasini-vittulu 

 (Tel.) ; Hand, gul, suchal, kasni (Pb.) ; Kasani (Guz.). 



Habitat : — North-West India; Kumaun. 



Perennial herbs. Root fleshy, tapering. Stems and leaf nerves 

 beneath hispid. Stem l-3ft, angled and grooved. Branches 

 rigid, spreading. Leaves runcinate, oblong-lanceolate, upper 

 cordate, amplexicaul. Heads l-ljin. diam. solitary and terminal 

 and axillary, clustered. Peduncle thickened in the middle. 



