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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


have the supposed use of phangala in snake-bite carefully investigated, for, although much has already been done in this direction, the question apparently is still undecided. Not commercial, but can readily be collected. Could be cultivated from the seed. An ammoniacal tincture might be useful in snake-bite (Proceed. Indigen. Drugs Com., Vol. I. p. 158.)

Chemical composition. — The most interesting principle detected in the plant was an alkaloid. After repeated purification it was left as a yellow varnish with slightly bitter and mouse-like flavour. It was more soluble in chloroform than in ether. No special colour reactions were noted. We also detected the presence of trimethylamine, and a volatile principle with a cedar-wood odour. Resinous principles were also present, with astringent matter. We provisionally call the alkaloid Pogostemonine (Pharmacographia Indiea, III. 101).

980. P. patchouli, Pelletier, h.f.b.i., iv. 633.

Syn. : — P. Heyneanus, Benth.

Vern. : — Peholi ; Pachôlí ; Pachâpât ; Panel ; Mali ; Pachppanadi ; Pako nilam (Bomb.).

Habitat : — Western Peninsula, from Bombay southwards, wild and cultivated.

An erect, branched, pubescent or glabrate herb, 2-3ft. high. Leaves 2-3 in., long-petioled, ovate, acute, acuminate or obtuse crenate or simply or doubly toothed or incised, membranous ; base cuneate petiole, ½-1½in. Spikes 3-6in., rarely short and dense. Whorls ½in., diam subglobose, many and dense-fid, distinct or sub-confluent on the slender pubesent or tomentose panicled spikes ; bracts elliptic, acute, equalling the calyx or shorter. Calyx 1/6in., pubescenfor tomentose, triangular, ciliate. Corolla very small, tube shortly exserted.

Use :— Sir George Watt, in his Commercial Products of India, p. 904, writes : —

" In the Central Provinces and Berar I found P. Heyneanus growing in the betel-leaf houses and sold apparently by the owners to the perfume manufacturers. This may be, at least partly, the patchouli of Bombay."

The subject requires further investigation. Patchouli is also obtained from the following plant.

981. Microtœna Cymosa, Prain.

Habitat :— Assam Manipur and Burma,

{{smaller|Stems 40-100 cm., lower branches 15-20 cm. petioles 2-3 cm. long, laminæ 4-7 cm. long 3-5 cm. wide, hairy on both surfaces, cymes sometimes