N. O. CIIGNot>Ol)JACIi/E. 
101)7 
tances. The free and combined fatty acids consisted largely of palmitic, 
oleic, and eruoid acids, while the two neutral substances were of phytosterol 
nature, and gavo results on analysis corresponding with tho empirical 
formulae Cj,H 58 0 2 and C 29 , H 45 and 0 2 respectively. (J. Ch. 1. 31. 5. 1912, 
p. 591.) * 
1015. Spinaeia olercieea, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 6. 
Syn. :--S. tetrandra, Roxb. 718. 
Vern. : — Palalc (H.); Palang (Beng.) ; Isfanaj Vusaleykiray 
(Tam.); Dam-pa-bachcliali, mattur bachchali (Tel.); Palak 
bbaji (M.). 
Habitat : — Cultivated tlirougliout India. 
Annual deltoid, ovate, acuminate, acutely broadly pinnatifidly 
lobed, erecth erbs. Leave's attenuate. Flowers dioecious, ebracteate, 
males in terminal leafless spikes; females in axillary clusters. 
Male : — Sepals 4-5, herbaceous, simple. Stamens 4-5, filaments 
capillary. Female:— perianth sub. globose, 2-4-toothed. Fruit- 
ing peiianth free, 2-spinous. Fruiting enclosing the Utricle, 
coriaceous, unarmed or with 2-3 dorsal spines. Stigmas long, 
filiform, connate below. Utricle hard, compressed, adnate to the 
perianth. Seed vertical, testa thin, albumen floury. Fimbryo 
annular. 
Use: — The seeds are laxative and cooling and useful in diffi- 
cult breathing, inflammation of the liver, and in jaundice. 
(Taleef Slierif). They yield a fatty oil. The green plant is be- 
lieved to be useful in urinary calculi. (Sakharam Arjun.) 
Regarding its chemical composition, the authors of the 
Rharmacog. Ind. write: — 
Chem. comp.— Besides a large quantity of mucilage, spinach contains so 
largo a proportion of nitrates, that tho water in which it has been boiled 
may be used for making touch-paper. Tho following figures give the mean 
percentage composition of three samples of spinach recorded by Konig : — 
Water 
... 88-47 
Nitrogenous matter 
... 3-49 
Fat 
... 0-58 
Sugar 
... o-io 
Nitrogen-free extractive 
... 
... 4-34 
Fibre 
... 0-93 
Ash 
... 2-09 
