N. 0. EUPHORBIACEiE. 1141 



The leaves are, in Baroda, used as an infusion with fenu- 

 greek seeds in cases of chronic dysentery, and are also con- 

 sidered a bitter tonic. In the same locality the milky juice is 

 considered a good application to offensive sores. 



Chemical composition. — The pulpy portion of the fruit dried at 100°C, 

 and freed from the nuts, had the following composition :— 



Ether extract (gallic acid, &c.) ... ... ... 11*32 



Alcoholic extract (tannin, sugar, &c.) ... ... 36*10 



Aqueous extract (gum, &c.) ... ... ... 1375 



Soda extract (albumen, &c.) ... ... ... 13-08 



Crude cellulose ... ... ... ... 17*80 



Mineral matter ... ... ... ... 4*12 



Moisture and loss ... ... ... ... 3 83 



100*00 



The acidity of the fruit was found to be equal to 9*6 per cent., calculated 

 as acetic acid. The amount of tannic acid, estimated with acetate of lead 

 solution, was 35 per cent, and 10 per cent, of glucose was estimated by 

 means of Fehling's solution on an infusion of the pulp after. the removal of the 

 tannin. 



Lowe considers this tannin to be identical with the ellago-tannic acid of 

 Divi-divi. (Pharmacogr. Ind. Ill 263.) 



1131. P. madraspatensis, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 292; 

 Roxb. 678, 



Vera. : — Nala userekee (Tel.) ; Kanocha, hazarmani (H.). 



Habitat: — Drier parts of India; from Banda, throughout 

 the Deccan Peninsula to Ceylon. 



An annual herb, but sometimes very woody at base. Stem 

 l-3ft. erect, with long, slender, ascending, glabrous branches. 

 Leaves on very short petioles, small, i-fin., cuneate-obovate, 

 much tapering to narrower base, rounded truncate, but often 

 apiculate at apex, glaucous and with lateral veins, conspicuous 

 beneath. Stipules linear-lanceolate, very acute. Flowers on 

 very short pedicels, male in small clusters, female solitary ; 

 sepals 6, obovate-rotundate, obtuse. Male flowers : — Stamens 3, 

 filaments connate. Female flowers : — Styles 3, very small. Fruit 

 dry, very small, under |in., depressed, 3-lobed, glabrous. Seeds 

 very finely muricate in lines. Disk of glands in both sexes. 

 Anthers almost sessile on the column, erect, apiculate. 



