1164 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



was dark and viscid, and had an aromatic odour, but did not yield any crystal- 

 line deposit on standing : in absolute alcohol it was soluble, and on spontaneous 

 evaporation some yellow matter separated, which was destitute of crystalline 

 structure on microscopic examination. The alcoholic solution had no special 

 taste. The ether extract was yellow, and had an aromatic somewhat tea-like 

 odour, and on standing became indistinctly crystalline. In warm water a por- 

 tion dissolved, the solution possession a strong acid reaction, and affording a 

 dirty reddish coloration with ferric chloride : it did not precipitate gelatine, 

 and gave no reaction with cyanide of potassium. The portion insoluble in 

 water was dissolved by ammonia, affording a deep yellow coloured solution 

 with a somewhat camphoraceous odour, the addition of acids causing the 

 precipitation of whitish flocks. 



The ether extract obtained from the original aqueous solution, after it had 

 been rendered alkaline, contained a well-marked alkaloidal principle, which 

 after purification afforded the following reactions : with Fronde's re-agent 

 pinkish in the cold, dirty blue on warming ; with sulphuric acid yellowish- 

 red ; no reaction with sulphuric acid and potassium bichromate ; no reaction 

 with ferric chloride ; with nitric acid a yellow coloration ; it was not preci- 

 pitated by chromate of potash from an aqueous solution acidulated with 

 sulphuric acid ; taste harsh, without bitterness. We propose provisionally 

 to call this principle Acalypliine (Pharmacogr. Ind. III. 293-294.) 



1154. A. hispida, Burin., h.f.b.i., v. 417. 

 Syn. : — Caturus speciflorus, Linn., Roxb, 714. 

 Vern. :— Watta-tali (MaL). 

 Habitot : — Cultivated in gardens. 



" This is included by J. D. Hooker (see p. 417, Vol. V., F. B. 

 In.) among the doubtful and excluded species " with the follow- 

 ing remark : — " Caturus spiciflorus Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 760), with 

 very long spikes minute bracts and very long styles is a garden 

 plant only in India." Roxburgh's description is as follows : — 

 " Shrubby. Leaves long-petioled, cordate, serrate. Spikes 

 pendulous, longer than the leaves." Male calyx absent ; Corolla 

 trifid. Female calyx three or four parted ; corolla absent, 

 Styles three. Capsule tricocous. With regard to the figure of 

 Acalypha hispida Burin., from Burmans' Flora Indica, 1768, 

 which is reproduced in this work (Plate 875 A), Roxburgh says 

 that same would be a tolerable representation of the female if 

 the spikes were longer and pendulous." 



Uses : —Flowers said to be specific in diarrhoea and similar 

 disorders ; boiled in water or administered in the form of a 



