The leaves are, in Baroda, used as an infusion with fenugreek seeds in cases of chronic dysentery, and are also considered a bitter tonic. In the same locality the milky juice is considered a good application to offensive sores.
Chemical composition. — The pulpy portion of the fruit dried at 100°C, and freed from the nuts, had the following composition :—
| Ether extract (gallic acid, &c.) | 11.32 |
| Alcoholic extract (tannin, sugar, &c.) | 36.10 |
| Aqueous extract (gum, &c.) | 13.75 |
| Soda extract (albumen, &c.) | 13.08 |
| Crude cellulose | 17.80 |
| Mineral matter | 04.12 |
| Moisture and loss | 03.83 |
| Total | 100.00 |
The acidity of the fruit was found to be equal to 9.6 per cent., calculated as acetic acid. The amount of tannic acid, estimated with acetate of lead solution, was 35 per cent, and 10 per cent, of glucose was estimated by means of Fehling's solution on an infusion of the pulp after. the removal of the tannin.
Löwe considers this tannin to be identical with the ellago-tannic acid of Divi-divi. (Pharmacogr. Ind. Ill 263.)
1131. P. madraspatensis, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 292; Roxb. 678,
Vern. : — Nala userekee (Tel.) ; Kanocha, hazarmani (H.).
Habitat: — Drier parts of India; from Banda, throughout the Deccan Peninsula to Ceylon.
An annual herb, but sometimes very woody at base. Stem l-3ft. erect, with long, slender, ascending, glabrous branches. Leaves on very short petioles, small, ¼-½in., cuneate-obovate, much tapering to narrower base, rounded truncate, but often apiculate at apex, glaucous and with lateral veins, conspicuous beneath. Stipules linear-lanceolate, very acute. Flowers on very short pedicels, male in small clusters, female solitary ; sepals 6, obovate-rotundate, obtuse. Male flowers : — Stamens 3, filaments connate. Female flowers : — Styles 3, very small. Fruit dry, very small, under ⅛in., depressed, 3-lobed, glabrous. Seeds very finely muricate in lines. Disk of glands in both sexes. Anthers almost sessile on the column, erect, apiculate.
