42 
INDIAN MEDIOINAL PLANTS. 
to abscesses, clearing away or maturing the inflammation, and 
that, prepared as an infusion, it is a valuable eroenagogue. 
He also states that the perfumed oil prepared from the 
flowers is a useful application in cephalalgia, ophthalmia, and 
gout, and that the oil of the seeds is rubbed over the abdomen 
to relieve flatulence. In Dacca, the juice of the leaves is given 
with honey in cases of Colic (Taylor). 
In the Pharmacopoeia of India, the bark is described as 
having febrifuge properties. Dr. Kanax Lal Dey considers 
it to be an excellent substitute for guaiacum. 
In the Gazetteer of Orissa, the bark is described as stimu- 
lant, expectorant and astringent ; the seeds and fruit are said 
to be useful for healing cracks in the feet, and the root is des- 
cribed as purgative. 
Dr. Moodeen Sheriff considers the flowers to be stimu- 
lant, antispasmodic, tonic, stomachic and carminative; and 
describes an infusion, decoction and tincture; particularly 
recommending the last. 
Chemistry — “ The essential oil from yeliow cbampaea flowers (Micheliu 
champuca L.) has the specific gravity O' f)04 — 0*9107 at 30730° C., nD=l’4640 
— 1-4088 at 30°C., ester value 124 — 140, and ester value after acetylatihg 
199. When distilled in a vacuum it polymerises. It contains isoeugenol, 
benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, cineol and p-cresol methyl 
ether. The white flowers (Michelia loiigifolia Bl.) yield an oil with the 
following characters specific gravity 0 897, ester value 180 - 0, nD=l'4470 
at 30°C. It contains linalool, mothyleugnol, methylethylactic acid probably 
in the form of the methyl or ethyl ester, and a phenolic substance possessing 
an odour closely resembling that of thymol. The yellow flowers contain a 
ketone melting at 106° — 166°C., and yielding a hydrazone C16, H20 04 : N. N.H 
C6. H5, m. pt. 161*0.'’— J. Ch. I. Jan. 81st, 1912, p. 90. 
31 . M. Nilagiricct, Zenk. h.f.br.i., i . 44 . 
Vern. : — Pola champa (H.) ; Shempangan, sempagura, shem- 
bugha (Tam.). Walu sapu (Sinhalese). 
habitat: — Higher mountains of the Western Peninsula, 
Ceylon. 
A handsome moderate-sized tree or shrub at [high eleva- 
tions. Young parts silky, particularly buds. Bark brown, £ 
in. thick, cleft but not deeply 'into small rectangular plates. 
