Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/624

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544
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


in acetone solution. The acid seems to be manobasic and forms an amorphous barium salt. (C28H23O19 ) Ba, which is white when moist, and green when dry, and a grey, amorphous, basic (?) Zinc salt, probably (C28H23O19 )2 Zn+Zn O. These salts appear, in general, to be decomposed by water, even in the cold. With strychnine, an acid salt, C19H22N2O,2C28H24O19, is formed. With benzoic chloride and soda, a yellowish, amorphous benzoyl derivative, C28H20 BL4O19 , melting at 88.5°, is obtained. With phenyl-hydrazine, chebulic acid yields a derivative in the form of a reddish powder, which melts at 142°, and, when dissolved in alcohol and treated with strong aqueous potash, yields a momentarily green, then mulberry-red, and, finally, brownish-red coloration. (Tannic acid, similarly treated, gives a green colour, only gradually changing to red ; gallic acid, an immediate red coloration). When chebulic acid is dissolved in alcohol, and the solution saturated with gaseous hydrogen chloride, some ethyl gallate is formed, and, in addition, a yellow, amorphous acid, somewhat analogous in its properties to tannic acid. Sulphuric acid hydrolyses chebulic acid to gallic acid and other undetermined products.— J. Ch. S. LXIV., pt. I. (1893), p. 212.

493. T. citrina, Roxb. h.f.b.i., ii. 446. Roxb. 382.

Vern. : — Haritaki ; Narra (B.) ; Hilika, Silikka (Assam.) ; Hortaki (Cachar) ; Hariha, Harira (U. P.)

Habitat :— Assam ; East Bengal ; Burma.

A large tree attaining 80ft. Leaves thickly coriaceous, elliptic lanceolate or oblong, subopposite, narrowed into a petiole ½in., blade 3-7in.; when adult glabrous, shining, the interstices of the nerves beneath, with sunk, close, white tomentum ; the petiole usually with two glands at the top or on the base, of the leaf beneath. Bracteoles linear, conspicuous on the young spikes. Spikes terminal and lateral, often panicled. Flowers all hermaphrodite. Calyx- teeth glabrous without, hairy within. Young ovary glabrous. Fruit narrow, lanceolate 2in. long.

Mr. C. B. Clarke remarks that T. citrina has a straighter stem, a brighter foliage and narrower fruits, but ought perhaps hardly to be reckoned a distinct species."

Use : — The medicinal properties are similar to those of the Chebulic myrobalan.

494. T. Arjuna, Bedd. h.f.b.i., ii. 447.

Syn. : — Pentaptera Arjuna, Roxb. 382.

Sans. : — Arjuna ; Kukubha.

Vern. : — Anjan, arjun, kahu (H.) ; Vella marda, Vellai- maruda-maram (Tam.) , Ver maddi (Tel.) ; Sânmadat, arjun,