258  Madura  Aurardiaca,  Nuttall.       {k"'*Ti fSf"' 
ground  into  numerous  slender  branches.  Leaves  petiolate,  entire, 
five  to  six  inches  long,  and  two  to  three  inches  broad,  ovate,  acumi- 
nate, smooth  and  shining  on  the  upper  surface,  on  the  under  side 
minutely  pubescent.  Fruit,  when  ripe,  resembles  the  largest  oranges, 
composed  of  numerous  coalesced,  rather  woody  carpels,  giving  the 
surface  a  tuberculated  appearance.  Seeds  imbedded  in  the  fibrous 
mass,  about  the  size  of  those  of  a  quince. 
In  the  Southern  and  Western  States  this  tree  abounds,  and  is  well 
known  under  the  names  of  osage  orange  and  bois  d'arc,  or  bow  wood, 
the  latter  name  being  given  it  on  account  of  the  uncommon  elasticity 
of  the  wood,  thus  affording  the  material  mostly  desired  by  Indians 
for  bows.    In  some  localities  it  is  cultivated  for  hedges. 
The  root  as  obtained  presented  the  following  appearance :  In  vari- 
ous sized  pieces,  from  \  to  1J  or  two  inches  in  diameter,  heavy  and 
compact ;  the  woody  portion  of  a  yellowish-white  color ;  bark  resin- 
ous, of  a  lighter  appearance  than  the  wood,  where  cut  "by  the  knife 
showing  a  green-black  color,  and  having  a  slight  bitter  and  astringent 
taste,  freely  exfoliating  in  thin  papyraceous  layers,  of  a  handsome 
orange  color. 
Preliminary  Examination. — Of  the  fresh  bark  a  decoction  was  pre- 
pared by  repeated  exhaustion  with  boiling  water.  By  the  aid  of 
paper  pulp  this  was  filtered,  and  then  gave  a  clear  brown-red  solution, 
which  was  submitted  to  the  following  tests : 
Iodine,  added  to  a  diluted  portion,  gave  slight  blue  coloration, 
showing  the  presence  of  starch. 
Upon  the  addition  of  two  bulks  of  alcohol  to  a  portion  of  the 
decoction,  a  copious  precipitate  was  formed.  This,  being  separated 
upon  a  filter,  and  treated  with  cold  water,  was  found  to  be  entirely 
soluble,  the  absence  of  pectin  being  thus  shown.  By  reprecipitation 
from  the  aqueous  solution  by  alcohol,  separation  from  the  fluid,  and 
thorough  washing  with  alcohol,  this  matter  was  obtained  nearly  white, 
and  upon  trial  showed  the  characters  of  gum. 
By  Trommer's  test,  the  decoction  showed  abundant  evidence  of  the 
presence  of  glucose. 
Upon  the  addition  of  ferric  chloride  to  the  decoction,  a  green-black 
coloration  was  produced,  which  was  not  evanescent  upon  being  heated, 
thus  proving  the  absence  of  gallic  acid,  and  seeming  to  indicate  the 
presence  of  tannin.  When  solution  of  gelatin  was  added  to  a  por- 
tion of  the  decoction  no  precipitate  was  produced,  thus  showing  that 
