There is a decided difference in the compositon of the shelled and unshelled seeds The shells contain the undesirable constituents, namely, the tannin matter and fibre, and the kernels represent a nutritious food, white in appearance and with no disagreeable odour and taste.
The oil obtained by ether is thick and light yellow in colour. It solidifies at 15° C, and gave the following constants : —
- Acid value ... ... ... ... 0.84
- Saponification value ... ... ... 183°
- Iodine value ... ... ... 87.1
- Fatty acids... ... ... ... 94.9
- Melting point ... ... ... 46°
The fatty acids crystallised twice from alcohol afforded an acid melting at 74.°5, resembling arachidic acid of ground-nut.
Elaidin reaction gives a buttery consistence. The oil is semidrying, forming a skin only after 12 days. (Agricultural Ledger, 1907, No. 2 pp. 15-16.)
431. Bauhinia tomentosa, Linn., h.f.b.l, ii. 275 ; Roxb. 345.
Vern. : — Kachnâr (H.); Kanchani (Tam, and Tel.) Asundro (Guz.); Châmal (Konkan); Pivalâkânchan, Ãptâ (Mar.) ; Esamaduga (Madras). " The vernacular names Kachnâr, Kânchan, applied to more than one species of Bauhinia " (MOODEEN SHERIFF).
Habitat: — N. W. Provinces to Ceylon.
An erect large shrub, with downy branches. Leaf broader than long, not cordate, coriaceous, l-3in. long, pubescent beneath, divided one-third down into two rounded lobes, 7-nerved. Flowers in pairs, on short, usually leaf-opposed peduncles, bracteoles linear. Calyx spathaceous, lin. long, shortly trifid at top, pubescent. Petals sulphur-yellow, the uppermost with a dark purplish blotch at base, 1¾ in. long, not spreading, but forming a bell-shaped Corolla. Fertile stamens 10. Style ½-⅝in. Pod dehiscent, finely pubescent, distinctly stalked, 4-5 by ½-⅝in., 6-10-seeded, glabrous; seeds small.
Use : — The bruised bark is externally applied on tumors and wounds (T. N. Mukerjee). The native practitioners in Southern India prescribe the small dried buds and young flowers in dysenteric affections (Ainslie). On the Malabar Coast, a decoction of the root bark is administered in inflammation of the liver (Rheede). The decoction of the root bark is also used as a vermifuge (Surg. Hill, Manbhum).
