N. 0. AP0CYNA0E.E. 795 



petroleum spirit, benzol, amyl alcohol, and carbon bisulphide. An analysis 

 gave figures corresponding with the formula C u H l3 N. For this he assigns 

 the name M Wrightine*" (Pharmacogrnphia Indica Vol. 11, pp. 395—396). 



"It appears desirable that the investigation should be extended to the 

 bark and seeds." (Ph. J. Feb. 27, 1880). 



756. Taberncemontana dichotomy, Roxb. h.f.b.i., 

 hi. 645 ; Roxb. 248. 



Vern. : — Pili-karbir, Kener zard (Pb.) ; Caat-aralie (Tain.); 

 Odallam (M.). 



Habitat: — Deccan Peninsula; common in the Western 

 Ghats. 



A small tree. Wood yellowish white, moderately hard. Milk 

 not acid. Branches dichotomous. Bark pale-grey, smooth. 

 Branchlets marked with scars of fallen leaves. Young parts 

 covered with a shining resinous coat. Leaves numerous, 4-7 or 

 even 10in., elliptic-oblong, or lanceolate-oblong, tapering to 

 base, suddenly and shortly acuminate, obtuse, stiff and coriaceous, 

 dark-green above, paler beneath, lateral veins numerous, 

 horizontal, parallel, depressed above, prominent beneath. Petiole 

 ^-ljin., stout. Flowers few, white, throat and tube yellow, 

 very sweet-scented, on long, stout pedicels ; cymes in axils of 

 terminal pair of leaves, lax ; peduncle 2-6in., stout, glabrous : 

 bracts small ovate, fleshy, ad pressed. Calyx fleshy at base, 

 segments rounded, glabrous: Corolla l|-3in. diam : tube 

 -|-lin., fleshy, lobes considerably longer oblong, obtuse, falcately 

 twisted, often crisped at margin. Anthers acute. Ovary glab- 

 rous, style clavate ; ripe carpels about two in., pendulous, 

 horizontally-divaricate or reflexed, broadly ovoid, blunt, flat 

 on dorsal, rounded on vertical side, smooth, orange-yellow. 

 Seeds fin., 'finely striate, surrounded by a coat of crimson 

 pulp. 



Use : — The seeds are said to be powerfully narcotic and 

 poisonous, producing delirium and other symptoms similar to 

 those caused by Shatura (Ainslie). 



They are said by Lin d ley to be purgative. The leaves and 

 bark act as purgatives, and are believed to be used in Java as 

 substitutes for senna ; the milky sap is also described as 

 cathartic (Watt). 



