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inconspicuous on both surfaces , petiole j-Jin. Flowers very 
fragrant, usually terminal and solitary or in pair, nearly sessile 
bisexual, 3-4in. diam. Flowers, Feb-April. Sepals 4, in 2 rows, 
thick orbicular, with membranous margins, inner pair largest. 
Petals 4, imbricate, spreading cuneate obovate, pure white. 
Stamens indefinite, Anthers as large, oblong, linear, basifixed, 
golden yellow. Ovary 2-celled, 2 ovules in each cell ; style 
filiform ; stigma peltate. Fruit pointed, conically ovoid, l-l£in , 
2-valved. Valves tough, supported by the enlarged sepals. Seeds 
1*4, testa smooth, hard, shining, dark brown; embryo a fleshy 
homogeneous mass. 
Parts rtsed.- -The flowers, kernel, bark and leaves. 
Use . — The flowers are considered by the Hindu physicians 
to have astringent and stomachic properties, A paste made 
of the flowers with butter and sugar, is used in bleeding piles 
and burning of the feet. (U. C. Dutt.) 
The flowers and leaves are used in Bengal as antidote to 
snake poison (O’Shaughnessy), The bark is mildly astringent 
and fetbly aromatic (l)yinock) ; the oil of the seeds is used as an 
embrocation in rheumatism in North Canara (Ph. Ind., p. 32), 
and found useful in the treatment of itch by K. L. Dey. 
In many localities, the flowers are used for cough, especially 
when attended with much expectoration. Rheede states that 
the bark is given as a sudorific combined with ginger. 
Moodeen Sheriff considers the flowers of Mesua ferrea 
and Oehroaarpus lonyifolius to be stimulant and carminative 
and useful in some forms of dyspepsia and in haemorrhoids. 
The seeds resemble chestnuts in colour and form. The 
kernel yields 79‘48 p.c. of a brown non-drying oil, partially 
soluble in alcohol, and gives an orange coloration, with a mixture 
of sulphuric and nitric acids. The residue contains 24T4 p. c. 
of proteins. f'J. Ch. I, for Aug. 31, 1910, p. 1019.) 
The seeds are brown and generally pear shaped ; they consist of a shiny, 
brittle, woody shell containing a single buff-colored kernel. Shell 34 per cent., 
kernel 56 per cent. The kernels contain 76 per cent, of reddish brown oil 
with a sweetish smell and slight bitter taste. The oil became semi-solid on 
standing at 15° C. Sp-gr. at 15° 0. 0 935 ; saponification value, 204 ; iodine 
value, 90. The oil is useful in soap making. The residual cake is bitter and 
probably poisonous ; it would only be of value as manure. 
[Bulletin Imperial Institute 1613.] 
