786 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



The plumeride, isolated by Boorsma from the bark of Plameria acutifolia 

 appears to be identical with the substance obtained by Merck 

 from the same source, although the former investigator stated that it did 

 not melt, whereas the latter gave its melting point as 157-158°. A. P. N. 

 Franchimont finds that the substance melting at 157° is the hydrated 

 form of plumieride ; when crystallised from dry ethylic acetate, it separates 

 in the anhydrous condition, and then has no definite melting point. A mole- 

 cular weight determination by the cryoscopic method gave numbers varying 

 from 537 to 572 ; thase values are approximately half those obtained by Merck, 

 who used the ebullioscopic method. Plumeride is a glucoside, for, when 

 boiled with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid, it is hydrolysed, yielding glucose 

 and an insoluble, amorphous, brown substance. An acid, named plumieridic 

 acid, is produced by dissolving plumieride in aqueous potash and 

 allowing the solution to remain for some time ; the solution, when acidified 

 with dilute sulphuric acid yields the new compound, which is sparingly soluble 

 in water. This acid is slightly soluble in methylic alcohol and insoluble 

 in ethylic alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzene ; it decomposes at 

 temperatures above 200° ; its dilute aqueous solution is laevorotatory. 

 The potassium salt crystallises from water. Plumieridic acid is also a 

 glucoside, for, on boiling with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid, it behaves 

 like plumeride, yielding glucose and an amorphous, brown substance. 

 Plumieride seems also to be identical with agoniadin, obtained by Peckolt 

 (Arch Pharm 1870, ii, 142, 40) from P. Jancifolia, for the latter substance 

 behaves similarly on hydrolysis, and melts at 155°.— J. Ch. S. 1899 A. I. 933. 



754. Alstonia scholaris, Brown, h.f.b.l, hi. 642. 

 Sans. : — Sapta-parna ; Visual tvak ; Bribattvaka. 



Vern. : — Chatwan, Chhatin, Chatiun (R.) ; Satiun, chatiun, 

 satwin, satni (H.) ; Chhatnia (Uriya) ; Chatin, bomudu (Kol.) ; 

 Chatiwan (Nepal); Purbo (Lepcha) ; Satvin (Mar.); Ezhilaip- 

 palai, wodrase (Tarn.); Edakula-pala, palagaruda, eda kula-ariti, 

 edakula-pouna (Tel.) ; Janthalla, Mudhol, Kodale, Madale, Kadu- 

 sale, hale. (Kan.)- 



Habitat: — Drier forests of India; in the tropical region of 

 the Western Himalaya, from the Jumna eastwards to Assam, 

 and southwards to Ceylon. 



A large, evergreen tree, up to 60 feeu or more in height, with 

 bitter milky juice. Stem tall, base often tufted or buttressed. 

 Branches spreading, in tiers of whorls. Bark dark-grey, some- 

 what rough, lenticilate. Wood white, soft, even-grained, seasons 

 hardly and soon gets mouldy and discoloured, if allowed to 

 season in log (Gamble). Leaves in whorls of 4-7 ; 4-8 by l-l|in., 



