1164 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
was dark and viscid, and had an aromatic odour, bnt did not yield any crystal- 
line deposit on standing : in absolute alcohol it was soluble, and on spontaneons 
evaporation some yellow matter separated, which was destitute of crystalline 
structure on mioroscopic examination. The alcoholic solution had no special 
taste. The ether extract was yellow, and had an aromatic somewhat tea-like 
odour, and on standing became indistinctly crystalline. In warm water a por- 
tion dissolved, the solution possession a strong acid reaction, and affording a 
dirty reddish coloration with ferric chloride : it did not precipitate gelatine, 
and gave no reaction with cyanide of potassium. The portion insoluble in 
water was dissolved by ammonia, affording a deep yellow coloured solution 
with a somewhat camphoraceons odour, the addition of acids causing the 
precipitation of whitish flocks. 
The ether extract obtained from the original aqueous solution, after it had 
been rendered alkaline, contained a well-marked alkaloidal principle, which 
after purification afforded the following reactions : with Frohde’s re-agent 
pinkish in the cold, dirty blue on warming ; with sulphuric acid yellowish- 
red ; no reaction with sulphuric acid and potassium bichromate ; no reaction 
with ferric chloride ; with nitric acid a yellow coloration ; it was not preci- 
pitated by chromate of potash from an aqueous solution acidulated with 
sulphuric acid ; taste harsh, without bitterness. We propose provisionally 
to call this principle Acalyphine (Pharmacogr. Ind. III. 293-294.) 
1154 . A. hispidp, Burm., h.f.b.i., v. 417 . 
Syn. : — Caturus speciflorus, Linn., Roxb. 714. 
Vern. : — Watta-tali (Mai.'., 
Habitot : — Cultivated in gardens. 
“ This is included by J. T). Hooker (see p. 417, Vol. V., F. B. 
In.) among the doubtful and excluded species ” with the follow- 
ingremark : — “Caturus spiciflorus Roxb. FI. Ind. Ill, 760), with 
very long spikes minute bracts and very long styles is a garden 
plant only in India.” Roxburgh’s description is as follows : — 
“Shrubby. Leaves long-petioled, cordate, serrate. Spikes 
pendulous, longer than the leaves.” Male calyx absent; Corolla 
trifid. Female calyx three or four parted ; corolla absent. 
Styles three. Capsule tricocous. With regard to the figure of 
Acalypha hispida Burin., from Burmans’ Flora Indica, 17GS, 
which is reproduced in this work (Plate 875A), Roxburgh says 
that same would be a tolerable representation of the female if 
the spikes were longer and pendulous.” 
Uses : — Flowers said to be specific in diarrhoea and similar 
disorders; boiled in water or administered in the form of a 
