N. 0. M ALVACEdi. 
165 
cell. Carpels numerous, ultimately separating from a short 
torus. Seed solitary in each carpel, ascending. 
Parts used : — The flowers, carpels, leaves and root. 
Uses : — The Mahomedans describe it as a suppurative and 
emollient ; they use the leaves as a poultice and for fomenta- 
tions; mixed with oil, the leaves and flowers are applied to 
burns and parts bitten by venomous reptiles. The root boiled 
with sugar- is prescribed in coughs and irritable condition of the 
intestines and bladder. The decoction is also used as an emol- 
lient enema, and in making ointments (Dymock.) 
The root should be gathered in the autumn from plants 
not less than two years old. 
Emollient cataplasms are prepared from the rounded root. 
The root contains a little starch, nearly twenty per cent 
of gum or mucilage, some uncrystallizable sugar, and a crys- 
tallizable principle, besides other unimportant constituents. The 
mucilage lies like the fecula in small cells, in the form of minute 
grains, which may be obtained pure by washing the chopped 
root in rectified spirit, and allowing them to subside. A yel- 
lowish white powder is thus procured, consisting of microscopic 
transparent grains, which seem intermediate between true gum 
and perfect starch. The crystalline principle “althaein ” seems 
to be identical with the “asparagin ” of asparagus. (Sowerby’s 
English Botany.) 
Betaine can be obtained from the aqueons extract of the root of Althaea 
officinalis after removing the asparagine by precipitating It with nitric acid 
and sodium phosphomolybdate ; the free base obtained by treating the preci- 
pitate with barium hydroxide forms colourless crystals, is soluble in water 
and alcohol, and insoluble in ether. The hydrochloride is easily crystallised, 
and does not change on exposure to the air. With potassium dichromate 
solution and hydrochloric acid, betaine does not exhibit any colour reaction. 
It is precipitated by picric acid, zinc ohlonde, and auric chloride, but not 
bj tannin ; the aurochloride, C 5 H u N0 1 ,HAuC 1 4 , crystallises in microscopic 
plates, or in short crystals arranged in the form of a cross. 
J. Ch. S. Vol. 7# part I. p. 4. 
144 . A. rosea, Linn, h.f.b.i., i, 319 . 
Vern .: — The same as for A. officinalis, Linn. 
Eng.: — Holly-hock. 
