Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/637

Rh about 335°C, whilst the pentabenzoyl derivative is colourless, and melts at 333°0. No substance of a glucosidic nature was found in the seeds.— J. Ch. I, November 15, 1912, p. 1052.

The phenolic substance isolated from jatnbul seeds (this J. 1912, 1051) which was named " Jambulol," and which has also been detected in Chinese rhubarb (Chem. Soc. Trans. 1911, 99, 962 and Proc. 1912. 28. 96), and in Euphorbia pilulifera (this J. 1913, 505) has since been identified as ellagic acid C14H2O4 (O H.) 4— A. S. J. Ch. I., August 30, 1913, p. 840.

Vern:— Ijjal (H.) ; Samudra-phal (B.) ; Nivar (Concan) ; Samudra (Cuddapah) ; Samutra-pullam (Tam.) ; Samudra-pao, Sam-stravadi (Mal.)

Habitat : — On the sea coasts, Concan.

A moderate-sized evergeen tree, attaining 50ft., glabrous. Wood white, very soft, porous. It is a handsome tree, planted on the road sides in Colombo^ for ornament. It is found on the west coast, from the Concan southwards near rivers and back waters, also inland. Leaves lightly crenate-denticulate, cuneate- oblong ovate or oblanceolate, 10 by 3in., narrowed into a very short petiole ⅛-¼in. long. Racemes 12-18in., pendulous ; flowers cream-coloured, 2½in. across, distant. Pedicels ⅛-¼in. Calyx- tube ⅜in., ovate, closed in the bud, broadly funnel-shaped ; segments 2-3, irregular. Filaments often crimson. Fruit ovoid, 2-2½in. long, obscurely quadrangular below when quite ripe ; in ripening, attaining nearly its full length before one-third its full breadth. Exocarp very thick, fibrous.

Uses :— The root resembles Cinchona in medicinal virtues. It has de-obstruent and cooling properties. The fruit is efficacious in coughs, asthma and diarrhoea. The seeds are used in colic and ophthalmia (Watt).

The kernels of the drupes with milk, given in jaundice and other bilious diseases. The seeds are aromatic ; used also in parturition (T. N. Mukerji).

The pulverised fruit is used as a snuff, and combined with other remedies, is applied externally in diseases of the skin (Treasury of Botany.)