Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/634

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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


saponification number 131. Akalis colour it yellowish-red, and strong sulphuric acid produces a brown mass. The fat is yellowish green, has a pleasant aromatic odour, and dissolves completely in chloroform, partially in ether or alcohol ; it melts at 235°, and has iodine number 199, acid number 95, and saponification number 137.

The greenish-yellow volatile oil contains eugenol and dissolves in chloroform, ether, or alcohol ; it boils at 237° and has a sp. gr. 1.069. Sulphuric acid colours it dark green, and bromine vapor orange-yellow. The tannin forms a brown amorphous powder, soluble in water and alcohol, giving a black precipitate with iron salts and reducing alkaline copper solution after boiling with dilute sulphuric acid. Calcium and manganese are present in the plant in combination with phosphoric, oxalic, and malic acids, (J. Ch. S. 1905 A I. 192).


503. Eugenia jambos, Linn, 474, Roxb. 401.

Vern. : — Gulâb-jâmân (H.) ; Gulâb-jamb (B.) ; Golâpjam (Uriya); Jamu (Sind.) ; Jâmb (Deccan) ; Malle-nerale, pannerale (Coorg) ; Pannerali (Kan.)

Habitat : — East Indies.

A middle-sized tree. Wood brown, rather soft, with fairly regular, wavy, concentric lines of loose texture Leaves thinly coriaceous, oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, narrowed towards both ends; blade 4-7in., petiole ¼in., secondary nerves and intra-marginal veins slender, but distinct. Flowers greenish-white, 2-3in. across, in short terminal corymbs ; composed of 2-4 pair of opposite flowers, those of the uppermost pair often opening first. Calyx-tube obconical, ½in. long ; stamens l¾in. long, pedicel often as long as Calyx-tube. Fruit globose or pear-shaped, l½-3in. long, yellow or pink ; edible, having the faint flavour of rose.

Use:— In Bhamo, Upper Burma, the leaves are boiled and used as a medicine for sore eyes (Watt).

504. E. operculata, Roxb. h.f.b.l, II. 498, Roxb. 398.

Vern. : — Rai-jaman, piaman, jamawa, dugdugia, thuti (H.) ; Topa (Kol.); Totonopak (Santa!.); Boteejam (Chittagong).

Habitat:— Sub-Himalayan forests, from the Jumna to Assam, Oudh and Gorakhpur forests ; Cachar and Chittagong.