1084 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Tiumiciiiy C 15 H 10 0 4 , crystallises from light petroleum in golden-yellow 
leaflets with metallic lustre, and melts at 186-188"; the solution in caustic 
potash is purple-red, becoming colourless on exposure to carbonic anhydride, 
which precipitates rnmicin. When heated with hydriodic acid, it yields 
chrysophano-hydro-antbrone, which is obtained from chrysoplianic acid under 
the influence of the same agent 
Nepalin, C l7 H 14 0 4 , crystallises from glacial acetic acid in microscopic, 
orange needles, and melts at 186°; it is insoluble in alkali carbonates, 
but dissolves in caustic potash, forming a purple solution, which becomes 
colourless under the influence of carbonic anhydride. The solution in 
concentrated sulphuric acid is blood-red. The diacetyl derivative crystallises 
from glacial acetic acid in lustrous, brownish-yellow rhombohedra, which 
darken at 170", and melt at 181". 
Nepodin, 0 13 H is O 4 , crystallises from a mixture of benzene light petroleum in 
long, greenish-yellow prisms, and melts' at 158". It dissolves readily in 
alkali carbonates, forming a yellowish-brown solution ; the solution in con- 
centrated sulphuric acid is an intense, yellowish-red colour. The diacetyl 
derivative crystallises in pale-yellow rhombohedra, darkens at 180" and melts 
and decomposes at 168". 
These three constituents of Rumcs nepalettsis, of which nepaliu greatly 
preponderates, are separated from one another by extracting the root with 
ether, removing nepodin by means of aqueous potassium carbonate, evaporat- 
ing the ether, and extracting the rumicin from the residue with boiling 
acetone ; the nepalin remaining undissolved. (J. Ch. S. 1896 A. I. 578.) 
Rumicin is chrysophanic acid, uncontaminated with methyl, chrysophanic 
acid, whilst nepalin is identical with nepodin, C )8 H 15 0 4 . (J. Ch. S. 1900 A. I. 
41). 
1073. R. vesicarius, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 61. ; Roxb. 
309. 
Sans. : — Chukra ; Shutavedhee. 
Vern. : — Chuk£ Chuk4palang (H. an,d B.) ; Shakkan-kirai 
(Tam.)'; Shukk-kura-ku (Tel.) ; Sukhasag (Assam) ; Ambut 
chuka (O. P.); Triwakka, khatbiri, khattitan, khatta mitha, 
saluni (Pb.) ; Chuk£ (Sind); Ambari, chukka (Deccan); Chukd 
(Bomb.). 
Habitat : — Western Punjab ; on the Salt Range and'Trans- 
Indus hills ; cultivated, and an escape in other parts of India. 
A pale-green annual, monoeicous, glabrous, 6-12in. high, 
dichotomously branched from the root, rather fleshy. Leaves 
petioled, elliptic, ovate or oblong, 3-5-nerved, base cuneate, rarely 
cordate or hastate, l-3in. acute or obtuse. Petiole as long as 
the blade. Racemes short, term i nal „ leaf-opposed , leafless, l-l|in.; 
