1022 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Lave the supposed use of phangnla in snake bite carefully investigated, for, 
although much has already been done in this direction, the question ap- 
parently is still undecided. Not commercial, but can readily be collected. 
Could be cultivated from the seed An ammoniaeal tincture might be useful 
in snake-bite (Proceed. Indigen. Drugs Com., Vol. I. p. 158.) 
Chemical composition. — The most interesting principle detected in the 
plant was an alkaloid. After repeated purification it W 2 s left as a yellow 
varnish with slightly bitter and mouse-like flavour. It was more soluble in 
chloroform than in ether. No special colour reactions were noted. We also 
detected the presence of trimetbylamine, and a volatile principle with a 
cedar-wood odour. Resinous principles were also present, with astringent 
matter. We provisionally call the alkaloid Pogostemoninc (Pharmaeographia 
Indica, III. 101). 
980. P. patchouli , Pelletier, h.f.b.i., iv. 633. 
Syn. : — P. Heyneanus, Benlli. 
Vent. : — Peholi ; Pacholf ; Pachapat; Panel ; Mali ; Pachp- 
panadi ; Pako nilam (Bomb.). 
Habitat : — Western Peninsula, from Bombay southwards, 
wild and cultivated. 
An erect, branched, pubescent or glabrate herb, 2-3ft. high. 
Leaves 2-3 in., long-petioled, ovate, acute, acuminate or obtuse 
crenate or simply or doubly toothed or incised, membranous ; 
base cuneate petiole, J-l|in. Spikes 3-6in., rarely short and 
dense. Whorls Jin., diam subglobose, many and dense-fid, 
distinct or sub-confluent on the slender pubesent or toiqentose 
panicled spikes ; bracts elliptic, acute, equalling the calyx or 
shorter. Calyx Jin., pubescent'or tomentose, triangular, ciliate. 
Corolla very small, tube shortly exserted. 
Use: — Sir George Watt, in his Commercial Product $ of India, 
p. 904, writes : — 
“ In the Central Provinces and Berar I found P. Heyneanus 
growing in the betel-leal houses and sold apparently by the 
owners to the perfume manufacturers. This may be, at least 
partly, the patchouli of Bombay.” 
The subject requires further investigation. Patchouli is also 
obtained from the following plant. 
981. Microtcena Cymosa, Prain. 
Habitat Assam Manipur and Burma. 
Stems 40-100 cm., lower branches 15-20 cm. petioles 2-3 cm. long, 
lamime 4-7 cm. long 3-5 cm. wide, hairy on both surfaces, cymes sometimes 
