932 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
a compound, C 43 H 0 - 9 O 20 Bz a , which melts at 128'’, and with phenyl-hydrazine 
it yields a compound which contains nitrogen and melts at 163." Attempts to 
prepare bromide failed, as the hydrogen bromide which is formed decom- 
poses th9gIucoside. When ourangin is boiled with a 2 per cent, solution of 
hydrogen chloride in alcohol, it ^decomposed into curangaegenin and a sugar, 
which appears to consist mainly of rhamnose. 
The crude curangaegenin contains two compounds, of which the one (A) 
present in the larger quantity is soluble in ether, and is apparently partially 
converted into the other (B) by prolonged boiling with the alcoholic acid 
solution. (B) is insoluble in ether. Both substances are easily soluble in 
ehylacotate, acetone, glacial aceticacid. or methyl, ethyl, or amyl alcohol." 
J. Ch. S. 1903 A. I. 243. 
Curangaegenin, C 30 H 47 0 7 , does not contain methoxy-groups. The formula 
tias confirmed by molecular weight determinations. Curangin is either 
non-poisonous or only very slightly poisonous. (J. Ch. 6. 1900. A. I. 304.) 
891 .. Torenia asintica Linn, h.f.b.i., iv. 277 . 
Vem : — Kakupu ('Mai.). 
Habitat : — Western Peninsula, and the Neilgherry Mts. 
Nearly glabrous or pubescent herb, diffusely branched ; 
creeping below. Branches 6-10in. long, slender. Leaves l|-2in., 
ovate-cordate or lanceolate, serrate, acuminate ; petiole short 
rarely more than £in. Pedicels axillary and subumbellate, fruit- 
ing thickened. Calyx tubular, fruiting lin., narrowly oblong, 
keeled, hardly winged ; base decurrent. Corolla l£-l£in., 
blue, with very dark violet lateral lobes. Longer filaments 
toothed.- Stigma 2-lamellate. 
Use : — The j uice of the leaves is considered on the Malabai 
coast a cure for gouorrhaea (Rheede). 
' 892 . Vandellia erecta, Benth. h.f.b.i., iv. 281 . 
Vern. : — Vaka-pushpi or “ crane flower” (Mar.). 
Habitat .- — Throughout India, from Kashmir to Assam,' 
Tennasseritn and the S. Deccan. 
Erect, quite glabrous, annual herbs, branched from the base ; 
branches divaricate, not rooting, 4-8in. high. Leaves f-fin., 
sessile, elliptic or oblong. Pedicels very slender, usually twice 
as long as the leaves. Sepals |--§-in. long, rather obtuse, lanceo- 
late or linear rather shorter than the ovoid orbicular capsule. 
