786 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
The plumeride, isolated by Boorsma from the bark of Plumeria acntifolia 
appears to be identical with the substance obtained by Merck 
from the same source, although the former investigator stated that it did 
not melt, whereas the latter gave its melting point us 157-158°. A. P. N. 
Franchimont finds that the substance melting at 157° is the hydrated 
form of plumieride ; when crystallised from dry ethylic acetate, it separates 
in tho anhydrous condition, and then has no definite melting point. A mole- 
cular weight determination by the cryoscopic method gave numbers varying 
from 587 to 572 ; these values are approximately half those obtained by Merck, 
who used the ebullioseopic method. Plumeride is a glucoside, for, when 
boiled with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid.it is hydrolysed, yielding glucose 
and an insoluble, amorphous, brown substance. An acid, named pliimieridic 
acid, is produced by dissolving plumieride in aqueous potash and 
allowing the solution to remain for sometime; the solution, when acidified 
with dilute sulphuric acid yields the new compound, which is sparingly soluble 
in water. This acid is slightly soluble in metiiylic alcohol and insoluble 
in ethylic alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzene ; it decomposes at 
temperatures above 200°; its dilute aqueous solution is laevorotatory. 
The potassium salt crystallises from water. Pliimieridic acid is also a 
glucoside, for, on boiling with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid, it behaves 
like plumeride, yielding glucose and an amorphous, brown substance. 
Plumieride seems also to be identical with agoniadin, obtained by Peekolt 
(Arch Pliarm 1870, ii, 142 , 40) from P. lancifolia, for the latter substance 
behaves similarly on hydrolysis, and melts at 155°.— J. Ch. 8. 1899 A. I. 933. 
754 . Alsttmia scholaris, Brown, h . f . b . i ., iii . 642 . 
Sam. : — Sapta-parna ; Vidal tvak ; Bribattvaka. 
Vera. ; — Chatvvan, Chhatin, Chatiun (P>.) ; Satiun, chatifin, 
satwin, satni ( H.) ; Chliatnia (Uriya) ; Chatin, bomudu (Kol.) ; 
Chatiwan (Nepal); Purbo (Lepcba) ; Satvin (Mar.); Ezhilaip- 
palni, wodrase (Tam.); Edaluila-pala, palagaruda, eda kula-ariti, 
edukula-pouna (Tel.) ; Janthalla, Mudhol, Ivodale, Madale, Kadu- 
sale, hale. (Kan.). 
Habitat -. — Drier forests of India; in the tropical region of 
the Western Himalaya, from the Jumna eastwards to Assam, 
and southwards to Ceylon. 
A large, evergreen tree, up to 60 feet or more in height, with 
bitter milky juice. Stem tall, base often tufted or buttressed. 
Branches spreading, in tiers of whorls. Bark dark-grey, some- 
what rough, lenticilate. Wood white, soft, even-grained, seasons 
hardly and soon gets mouldy and discoloured, if allowed to 
season in log (Gamble). Leaves in whorls of 4-7 ; 4-8 by l-l£in., 
