1076 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



racemes oblong dense-fid., bracts ciliate, pedicels glabrous, 



perianth red eglandular nerves slender, stamens usually 6. 



Chem. Gomp.— It has the following percentage composition :— Moisture 

 10*07, ash 652, ethereal oil 0053, wax 1.92, tannin 1*52, mucic and pectic 

 substances 542, calcium oxalate 218, total nitrogen 3*97, ammonia 0*31, 

 cellulose 2761, volatile acids 00464, sugar 3*24. The ash contains Na, K, Mg, 

 Ca, Fe, CI., So 3 , Si 2 , P 2 O s , and several quantities of Mn. It was dissolved by 

 light petroleum, consists of an easily hydrolysable phytosterol oleate along 

 with free phytosterol, and a solid acid melting at 55°C. The ethereal extract 

 contains chlorophyll and a resin, and the alcoholic extract, sugar, tannin, 

 gallic acid, quercetin and phlobaphen ; the latter is hydrolysed by dilute 

 sulphuric acid forming a sugar which gives an osazone melting at 177 U -178°C. 

 Only traces of volatile aminic bases are present, but considerable quantities 

 of ammonia, the bases precipitated by phosphotungstic acid are two or 

 three in number and differ in their solubility in chloroform and amyl alcohol. 

 The ethereal oil is noteworthy as consisting principally of volatile fatty 

 acids, especially acetic and butyric acids ; the remainder is made up of 

 a camphor-like solid with an agreeable odour (persicariol) and a liquid, not 

 further investigated. (J. S. Ch. I. Jan, 15, 1902, p. 66.) 



1060. P. barlatum, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 37. 



Syn. : — P. rivulare, Koen., Roxb. 335. 



Vern. : — Narri (Pb ) ; liekh-unjubaz (P.); Atalari (Tam.) ; 

 Kondamalle, niru ganeru (Tel.) ; Velluta modela mukku (Malay) ; 

 Dhakta slieral -Mar.) ; Mangarleta (Jaspur). 



Habitat: — Throughout the hotter parts of India, from Assam 

 to the Indus, and southwards to Malacca, Penang and Ceylon. 



Stems erect, glabrous, 1 j— 3ft. Leaves numerous, 5-6in., 

 linear-lanceolate, nearly sessile, tapering to both ends, acute, 

 finely hairy on both sides and at margins ; stipules IJin., 

 usually longer than internodes, strigose with long hair, ciliate, 

 with strong coarse hair, as long as the tube. Flowers on short 

 slender pedicels. Racemes 2-4in., erect, slender, rather lax. 

 Bracts strongly pectinate. Perianth white, without glands. 

 Styles 3. Stamens 5-8. Fruit a nut, triangular, black shining. 



Uses : — The seeds are employed in Malabar and Canara to 

 relieve the griping panis of colic (Dr. Stewart, also Dr. Ainslie). 

 In Patna, the root is used as an astringent and cooling remedy 

 (Irvine). In China, a decoction of the leaves and stalks is said 

 to be used as a stimulating wash for ulcers (Watt). 



