Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/36

786 The plumeride, isolated by Boorsma from the bark of Plameria acutifolia appears to be identical with the substance obtained by Merck from the same source, although the former investigator stated that it did not melt, whereas the latter gave its melting point as 157-158°. A. P. N. Franchimont finds that the substance melting at 157° is the hydrated form of plumieride ; when crystallised from dry ethylic acetate, it separates in the anhydrous condition, and then has no definite melting point. A molecular weight determination by the cryoscopic method gave numbers varying from 537 to 572 ; these values are approximately half those obtained by Merck, who used the ebullioscopic method. Plumeride is a glucoside, for, when boiled with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid, it is hydrolysed, yielding glucose and an insoluble, amorphous, brown substance. An acid, named plumieridic acid, is produced by dissolving plumieride in aqueous potash and allowing the solution to remain for some time ; the solution, when acidified with dilute sulphuric acid yields the new compound, which is sparingly soluble in water. This acid is slightly soluble in methylic alcohol and insoluble in ethylic alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzene ; it decomposes at temperatures above 200° ; its dilute aqueous solution is laevorotatory. The potassium salt crystallises from water. Plumieridic acid is also a glucoside, for, on boiling with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid, it behaves like plumeride, yielding glucose and an amorphous, brown substance. Plumieride seems also to be identical with agoniadin, obtained by Peckolt (Arch Pharm 1870, ii, 142, 40) from P. Jancifolia, for the latter substance behaves similarly on hydrolysis, and melts at 155°.— J. Ch. S. 1899 A. I. 933.

{{c|{{larger}754. Alstonia scholaris, Brown,}} 642.}}

'Sans. : — Sapta-parna ; Viśâltvak ; Bribattvaka.

Vern. : — Chatwan, Chhatin, Chatiun (R.) ; Satiûn, chatiûn, satwin, satni (H.) ; Chhatnia (Uriya) ; Chatin, bomudu (Kol.) ; Chatiwan (Nepal); Purbo (Lepcha) ; Satvin (Mar.); Ezhilaip-pâlâi, wodrase (Tam.); Edakula-pála, palagaruda, édá kula-ariti, édákula-pouna (Tel.) ; Janthalla, Mudhol, Kodale, Madale, Kadu- sale, hale. (Kan.)-

Habitat: — Drier forests of India; in the tropical region of the Western Himalaya, from the Jumna eastwards to Assam, and southwards to Ceylon.

A large, evergreen tree, up to 60 feet or more in height, with bitter milky juice. Stem tall, base often tufted or buttressed. Branches spreading, in tiers of whorls. Bark dark-grey, some-what rough, lenticilate. Wood white, soft, even-grained, seasons hardly and soon gets mouldy and discoloured, if allowed to season in log (Gamble). Leaves in whorls of 4-7 ; 4-8 by 1-1½in.,