N. U. VKKIilCNAClibU. 
993 
Chemical composition. —The root-bark of this plant atforded a yellowish- 
brown powder giving an orange-brown tincture with alcohol. The tincture 
when evaporated left a reddish coloured tasteless resin and some extractive 
matter. The resin was soluble in ether and in alkaline liquors; from the 
latter solution it was precipitated in greyish-brown Hocks by acids. Warmed 
with soda, the resin evolved an odour of lemon similar to that of Kamata resin; 
heated with sulphuric acid a transient purple colour was developed and a 
fragrant odour evolved. It showed no disposition to crystallize. The watery 
solution of the alcoholic extract had a sweetisli taste in small quantities and 
was nauseous in larger quantities. It contained a bitterish amorphous alka- 
loid, a substance reducing Fehling’s solution, and an astringent body, striking 
a green colour with ferric chloride, but giving no precipitates with gelatine. 
The alkaloid gave no distinct colour reactions with the strong mineral acids. 
952, P. tomentosa, Willd., h.f b.i., iv. 576. 
Veni. :■ — Naguru-Cliettu (Tel.) ; Pedanganeree, Kollay-Cotlay 
wellag (Tam.). 
Habitat: — Depcan peninsula and Ceylon, frequent ; from the 
Oircars and Central Provinces southward. 
A tree, often 50ft. ; branchlets densely stellate-woolly. 
Leaves 6 by 3|in., base rounded or subcordate, coriaceous, 
minutely glandular scabrous above, nerves 7 pair; petiole lin. 
Corymbs fin. diatn., often sessile, upper branches (or nearly 
all) alternate ; bractsf in., linear. Calyx Ain-, steilately 
woolly Corolla in. ,2 lipped, hairy in the throat, greenish- 
yellow. Drupe Jin. diam., deciduously hairy, ovoid, 3-1- 
seed ed. 
An aromatic oil is obtained from the root, and used as 
a remedy in disorders of the stomach (Trimen). 
953. P. latifolia, Roxb. 
V.ar.—Mucronata Roxb., h.f.h.i. iv., 578; Roxb. 485. 
Vern. : — Bakar, bakarcha, basota agnium (Hind.); Agniil 
(Kumaun) ; Ban, khar, gian (Pb.). 
Habitat: — N. India, from Kumaon to Bliotan and the 
Khasia Hills., also common in Bengal Plains. 
Uses : — Dr. P. S. Mootooswamy states that the leaves are diu- 
retic,- and are given internally and applied externally in dropsy. 
An infusion ol 10 drachms of the leaves and 2 drachms of cori- 
ander in ten ounces of boiling water has been used by him with 
advantage in acute dropsy. 
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