N. 0. APOCYNACEJi. 
777 
the aqueous solution rendered alkaline and agitated with ether. The ether 
extract contained an alkaloid which gave marked precipitates with the usual 
reagents. The dark brown yellowish resin, insoluble in ether and benzole, 
was wholly soluble in ammonia, and on spontaneous evaporation left a brittle 
residue. The ammoniacal solution when freshly made was yellow, but on 
standing became green, and on spontaneous evaporation the solid residue 
was brownish.” (Pharmacographia Indica, "Vol. II, p. 420j 
748. Rauwolfia serpentina, Benth. h.f.b.i., ill. 
632. 
S/jn. : — Ophioxylon serpentinum, Linn., Roxb. 233. 
Sans. : — Sarpagandha ; Chundrika. 
Vern. Chota-cliand (H.) ; Chandra; Chota-chdnd (B.) ; 
Chandra, chota-cliand, karavi, harkai, (Bomb.) ; Harkaya 
(Mar.) ; Pitala gandki, patala garuda (Tel.) ; Chuvauna-avilpori 
(Malay.). 
Habitat Tropical Himalaya and plains near the foot of the 
hills, from Sirhiud and Moradabad to Sikkim. The Khasia 
Mountain and in the Deccan Peninsula along the Ghats to 
Travancore. 
A small, erect, glabrous shrub, 6-1 8in., rarely 2-3ft., in a rich 
soil, climbing (Roxb). Bark white, rarely lenticilate. Leaves 3-7 by 
l|-2£in., very pale beneath, elliptic lanceolate, or obovate, acute 
or acuminate, nerves 8-12 pair, petiole iin. long, penduncle 
2-5in., stout, branches and pedicels p-^in. Flowers white or pin- 
kish, nearly lin. long, arranged in terminal or lateral corymbose 
cymes. Calyx small, bright red ; bracts minute, lanceolate. 
Calyxlobes j^in. long, lanceolate. Corolla about £in. long ; tube 
slender, shortly globosely inflated above the middle, often curved, 
margins of lobes of Calyx undulate. Disk membranous ; lobed. 
Drupes in pair or .single, black, ^in. diam, broadly obliquely 
ovoid ; endocarp slightly rugose. ■* 
Farts used : — The root, leaves and juice. 
Uses : — It is held in high esteem by the natives as an antidote 
to sanhe-bites, but reliable evidence of its utility is wanting. It 
is also valued as a tonic and febrifuge. Horsefield (Asiat. 
Journ., vol. viii., p. 148) states that the root yields a strong 
98 
