S84 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
847. I. biloba, Forsk h.f.b.i., iv. 212. 
Syn. : — Convolvulus Pes-Capne, Linn. ; C. bilobatus, Roxh. 
163. 
Verm — Dopati-lata (H.) ; Chhagulkaru (B.) ; Marjadvel 
(Bomb.) ; Balabandi tige, Cbevulapilli tige (Tel.); Kansarinata 
(Uriya). 
Habitat : — Throughout India ; abundant near the sea. 
An extensively creeping and twining sea-shore sand plant, 
glabrous. Leaves orbicular, obtuse, emarginate, or 2-lobed 
l-4in., often broader than long, fleshy, prominent-nerved ; 
petiole l-4in. Peduncle l-4in. 1-3-fid ; bracts |in., lanceolate, 
caducous. Pedicels often more than one. Corolla 2in., 
purple, tubular, funnel-shaped, glabrous, margin scarcely lobed. 
Ovary 2-celled, not imperfectly 4-celled. Capsule |in., ovoid, 
glabrous. Seeds villous. 
Uses ■ — The leaves are applied externally in rheumatism 
and colic. The root contains starch. The juice is given as a 
diuretic in dropsy and at the same time the bruised leaves are 
applied to the dropsical part. (Dymock.) 
The powdered roots, dried at a low temperature, were exhausted with 
80 per cent, alcohol : the tincture exhibited a slight greenish yellow 
fluorescence. The tincture was freed from alcohol by spontaneous eva- 
poration,, and the extract mixed with water, acidulated with sulphuric 
acid and agitated with benzole. During agitation, a brownish soft resin 
separated ; this resin was insoluble also in ether, but dissolved in alka- 
lies with a dark yellowish brown coloratiou, and was precipitated by 
acid in brown flocks. The benzole solution left on spontaneous evaporation 
a viscid transparent residue of the colour and consistence of Venice turpen- 
tine, which possessed a slight odour of peppermint. This extract was 
soluble in absolute alcohol with greenish yellow fluorescence and was neutral 
in reaction : it was also soluble in ether, with similar fluorescence. The 
alcoholic solution gave with ferric chloride a dirty greenish precipitate. 
In cold 5 per cent, caustic soda it was insoluble, but on boiling it dissolved 
with some difficulty, affording a dark yellowish solution, while an odour not 
unlike that of aniseed was noticed. The cold caustic soda solution on agita- 
tation with ether afforded a small amount of yellowish white oily extractive 
with an odour of aniseed. The caustic soda solution on the addition of dilute 
acids afforded a yellowish precipitate. The original acid aqueous solution 
was next agitated with ether. The extractive was small in amount, partly 
in the form of a transparent varnish adhering to the sides of the capsule, 
and partly in indistinct whitish crystals, Heated with water, a portion 
