Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/633

Rh pair, prominent parallel and very strong, with conspicuous transversal veins and net venation between. Flowers rather large, 1½ in, across, solitary or by 2-3 or ½-2in. long, pubescent peduncles, arising either solitary or rarely by 2-3 from the axils the leaves ; " fragrant," says Kurz (Flora of Burma, Vol II, 477 ; not so in Bombay (K. R. K.) Bractlets under the Calyx 2, subulate. Calyx-tube ovoid or globular, densely puberulous, the lobes broadly ovate, acute, nearly as long as the adnate part ; petals broad, fully ½ in. diam. Fruit a large berry. The largest fruit I have seen is from Allahabad (K. R. K.), 4in. in diam ; ordinarily of the size of an apple or pear, fleshy, many-seeded, crowned by the Calyx-limb ; when fully ripe, yellow and glossy. Pulp pinkish or white, edible, acid sweet.

Var. Pyriferum (P. pyriferum Linn). Peduncles 1 -flowered ; fruit pear-shaped.

Var. 2 pomiferum (P. pomiferum, Linn) : Peduncles usually 2-flowered, with a third flower in the fork ; fruits globular or ovoid.

Uses:— -The bark of the root of Var. pyriferum is valued for its astringent properties, and has been employed with success in the diarrhœa of children. It is generally administered in the form of a decoction. The decoction serves a good deal in the prolapsus ani of children. The young leaves are used as a tonic in the diseases of the digestive functions. The bark of the Var. Pomiferum possesses similar properties. The decoction of the leaves has been used in cholera with some success, in arresting vomiting and diarrhœa (Pharm. Ind.).

The leaves when chewed are said to be a remedy in tooth ache.

An oil from the leaves is of a lemon-yellow colour, and has a faint aromatic odour ; Sp Gr. at 15° C, 0.9157 ; AD = — 10°5' (100mm.); ND20=1.49638 ; acid value, 2.0; ester value, 6.4 ; soluble in about 10 volumes of 90 per cent, alcohol.

[Schimmel's Report, April 1910, p. 123).

The leaves have the percentage composition: — resin, 3.15,; fat, 5.99 ; volatile oil, 0.865 ; chlorophyll, 0.395 ; tannin, 9.15 ; mineral salts, 3.95 ; cellulose, 77.

The citron-yollow aromatic resin dissolves easily in chloroform, ether, or alcohol, melts at 189° and has the iodine number 115, acid number 89, and