N. 0. LEQUMINOSTE. 
485 
There is a decided difference in the compositon of the shelled and unshelled 
seeds The shells contain the undesirable constituents, namely, the tannin 
matter and llbre, and the kernels represent a nutritious food, white in appear- 
ance and with no disagreeable odour and taste. 
The oil obtained by ether is thick and light yellow in colour. It solidifies 
at 15° 0., and gave the following constants : — 
Acid value ... ... ... ... 0'84 
Saponification value ... ... ... 183° 
Iodine value ... ... ... 87‘1 
Fatty acids ... ... ... ••• 94'9 
Melting point ... ... ... 40° 
The fatty acids crystallised twice from alcohol afforded an acid melting at 
74'°5, resembling arachidie acid of ground-nut. 
Elaidin reaction gives a buttery consistence. The oil is semidrying, 
forming a skin only after 12 days. (Agricultural Ledger, 1907, No. 2 pp. 1516.) 
431. Bauhinia tomenlosa, Linn., h.f.b.i., ii. 275 ; 
Roxb. 345. 
Vern. : — Kachnar (H.); Kanchani (Tam. and Tel.) Asundro 
(Guz.); Chamal (Konkan); Pivalakanchan, Apta (Mar.) ; 
Esamaduga (Madras). “The vernacular names Kachnar, 
Kanchan, applied to more than one species of Bauhinia ” 
(Moodeen Sheriff). 
Habitat: — N. W. Provinces to Ceylon. 
An erect large shri.o. with downy branches. Leaf broader 
than long, not cordate, coriaceous, l-3in. long, pubescent be- 
neath, divided one-third down into two rounded lobes, 7- 
nerved. Flowers in pairs, on short, usually leaf-opposed 
peduncles, bracteoles linear. Calyx spathaceous, lin. long, 
shortly trifid at top, pubescent. Petals sulphur-yellow, the up- 
permost with a dark purplish blotch at base, If in. long, not 
spreading, but forming a bell-shaped Corolla. Fertile stamens 
10. Style f-|in. Pod dehiscent, finely pubescent, distinctly 
stalked, 4-5 by f-fin , 6-1 0-seeded, glabrous ; seeds small. 
Use : — The bruised bark is externally applied on tumors and 
wounds (T. N. Mukerjee). The native practitioners in South- 
ern India prescribe the small dried buds and young flowers in 
dysenteric affections (Ainslie). On the Malabar Coast, a de- 
coction of the root bark is administered in inflammation of the 
liver (Rheede). The decoction of the root bark is also used as a 
vermifuge (Surg. Hill, Manbhum). 
