334 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
7. The colouring matter is a reddish-brown, brittle resin of the formula 
C 15 H 14 0 6 , and, up to the present, has resisted all attempts to obtain it in a 
crystalline condition. It softens at about 100°, and melts at 100-110°. Dilute 
alkalis dissolve it with a purple-violet coloration, and the corresponding 
salts ate obtained as violet, amorphous precipitates, on adding common salts 
to these solutions. From its nature and properties, it appears possible that 
it is allied to alkanin, C, 6 H 14 0 4 , the colouring matter of the roots of the 
Anchnsa tinctoria. Alkanin is also of a resinous nature. It is possible, 
therefore, that the coloring matter of the Ventilago madraspatana, for which 
the name of ventilagin is proposed, is represented by alkanin containing two 
additional hydroxyl groups.— J. Ch. 9. T. 1891, p. 924 et seq. 
285. V. calyculata, Tulasne. h.f.b.i., i. 631. 
Syn. : — V. Madraspatana, Roxb., Roxb. 211. 
[King Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, Vol. 65 (1897) 379] con- 
siders this to be a variety of V. Madraspatana, so also does 
Dnthie (FI. of the Upper Gang. Plain, p. 162). 
Vern . : — Rai ohani (H.) ; Raktapita (B.) ; Bonga-sarjun, doe- 
saraj, noduar (Kol.) ; Bonga-sarjom (Santal) ; Raktapita kala 
lag (Kumaon) ; Papri (C. P.); Sakai yel- (Mar.) ; Zerra chiotali 
(Tel.); Ivarkandi chayeb; Kanyel (Bomb.). 
Habitat: — Throughout hotter parts of India, from the 
Kumaon Himalaya and Nepal to Bhutan. 
Sylhet, Tenassarim, Dun, Saharanpur. Throughout the 
Western Peninsula. 
A large woody climber, with strong tendrils. Branchlets 
pubescent. Bark dark grey. Leaves 2-4 by l-2fin., ovate or 
oblong-elliptic, more or less acute, cuneate or entire, sub- 
coriaceous, pubescent when young ; lateral nerves 6-8 pair, 
arcuate ; base unequal ; petiole J-§in. pubescent. Flowers 
numerous, small, greenish, in large terminal panicles. Calyx 
pubescent; lobes 5, keeled inside. Petals 5, deflexed. Disk 
5-lobed, filling the Calyx-tube. Ovary 2-celled, sunk in disk. 
Style short, prolonged and winged on both sides in fruit. 
Fruit a sub-globose nut, £in. diam., girt about middle by ten 
rims of the adherent Calyx-tube and prolonged into awing, 
which is 1-1§ by |-§ in., linear, strongly reaticulate and with 
a prominent straight midrib. 
