1340 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
crystals appeared to be very thin and somewhat curved. The brown tinge 
was still noticeable. The length of each crystal is 50 f*, and thickness under 
if*. The crystals are sparingly soluble in warm water, freely in boiling 
water, so that a piece of the wild variety, on being reduced to pulp and boiled 
with distilled water, was almost deprived of the crystals, while the white 
crystals were still seen. By filtering the hot water, brown crystals were 
obtained from the filtrate by evaporation. Is it a fact that the wild variety 
can be eaten, if well boiled, especially with salt ? 
“ On incinerating the piece just as described above, 1 found that these 
crystals were not altered in the slightest manner, thus proving that they 
too were inorganic in nature and that they were not oxalates. 
“ Acet'c acid dissolved them without evolution of gas. These were 
probably sulphate of calcium crystals ; however, lam not certain of that. 
I examined pieces of both the varieties for other salts after charring and 
incinerating them This method showed insoluble and soluble carbonates, 
soluble sulphates and traces of chlorides. 
“Of course, sulphate of calcium, being a poisonous salt, must have some- 
thing to do with the properties of the wild variety ; however, it is perhaps 
not the only cause ; a glucoside or an alkaloid may bo present too. As I havo 
neither the means nor the time at my disposal, I am not able to settle that 
point. 
“The important facts, however, are that the brown crystals are only 
present, as far as I know, in the wild variety, and that they are soluble in 
boiling water and weak acids, without evolving any gas like the white 
crystals. These are very delicato, and appear in places to be slightly 
bent ; while the white crystals are rigid, straight, and thicker.” 
1314. Synantherias sylvcitica, Schott, h.f.b.i. vi. 
518. 
Syn . Arum sylvaticum, Roxb. 630. 
Sans. : — Vajra-kanda. 
Vern. : — Uzomut (Goa) ; Wajramuta (Mar.). 
Habitat : — The Deccan peninsula, from the Northern Sircars, 
the Concan and southwads to Ceylon. 
Tuberous herbs. Tuber l-2|in. diam, subglobose bulbifer- 
ous. Leaves long petioled, a foot broad or less, divisions 1-2- 
pinnatifid ; leaflets few, ovate-lanceolate or oblanceolate, 
acuminate or caudate, 5-Cin. loDg, lower on the divisions 
smaller ; petiole G-18in., pale-green, streaked with darker 
green ; peduncle up to Sin. long, pink, clouded with dirty green, 
basal sheaths, short, scarious, pale-pink (Trimen). Hooker says 
" petiole and peduncle l-2ft." Spathe l-3in. long, pale-pink, 
