1076 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
racemes oblong dense-fid., bracts ciliate, pedicels glabrous, 
perianth red eglandular nerves slender, stamens usually 6. 
Client. Comp. — It has the following percentage composition: — Moisture 
10'07, ash 6 53, ethereal oil 0 053, wax 1.92, tannin D52, mucic and pectie 
substances 5 42, calcium oxalate 218, .total nitrogen 8'97, ammonia O’Sl, 
cellulose 27 01, volatile acids 0 0464, sugar S'24. The ash contains Na, K, Mg, 
Ci, Pe, Cl., Soj, Si O.j, PjO;,, and several quantities of Mn. It was dissolved by 
light petroleum, consists of an easily hydrolysable phytosterol oleate along 
with free phytosterol, and a solid acid melting at 55°C. The ethereal extract 
contains chlorophyll and a resin, and the alcoholic extract, sugar, tannin, 
gallic acid, quercetin and phlobaphen ; the latter is hydrolysed by dilute 
sulphuric acid forming a sugar which gives an osazone melting at 177"-178°C. 
Only traces of volatile aminic bases are present, but considerable quantities 
of ammonia, the bases precipitated by phosphotungstic acid are two or 
three in number and differ in their solubility in chloroform and amyl alcohol. 
The ethereal oil is noteworthy as consisting principally of volatile fatty 
acids, especially acetic and butyric acids ; the remainder is made up of 
a camphor-like solid with an agreeable odour (persicuriol) and a liquid, not 
further investigated. (J. S. Ch. I. Jan. 15, 1902, p. 66.) 
1060 . P. barlatum, Linn., h.f.b.i., v . 37 . 
Syn. : — P. rivulare, Koen., Roxb. 335. 
Fern.: — Nam (Pb); Bekh-unjubaz (P.); Atalari (Tam.); 
Kondamalle, niru ganeru (Tel.) ; Velluta moclela mukku (Malay) ; 
Dhaktl slieral .Mar.) ; Mangarleta (Jaspur). 
Habitat : — Throughout tlie hotter parts of India, from Assam 
to the Indus, and southwards to Malacca, Penang and Ceylon. 
Stems erect, glabrous, 1 ^-3 ft. Leaves numerous, 5-6in., 
linear-lanceolate, nearly sessile, tapering to both ends, acute, 
finely hairy on both sides and at margins ; stipules ljin., 
usually longer than internodes, strigose with long hair, ciliate, 
with strong coarse hair, as long as the tube. Flowers on short 
slender pedicels. Racemes 2-4in., erect, slender, rather lax. 
Bracts strongly pectinate. Perianth white, without glands. 
Styles 3. Stamens 5-8. Fruit a nut, triangular, black shining. . 
Uses : — The seeds are employed in Malabar and Cauara to 
relieve the griping panis of colic (Dr. Stewart, also Dr. Ainslie). 
In Patna, the root is used as an astringe nt and cooling remedy 
(Irvine). In China, a decoction of the leaves and stalks is said 
to be used as a stimulating wash for ulcers (Watt). 
