Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/505

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N. 0. SCITAMINEÆ.
1255

sparred nor crested. Filament pale-red, long, slender. Lateral staminodes broad. Style slender, long, filiform. Stigma sub-globose. Ovary 3-celled ; placentas axillary. Capsule glabrous, globose.

Use : — The aromatic root-stocks are used as a stomachic, carminative, tonic and stimulant.

Chem. comp.— The dried tubers have been examined by J. C. Thresh (Pharm. Journ. [3] XV. 361). The proximate analysis gave the following results : —

Caption text
Soluble in petroleum ether—
Ethyl-methyl-paracoumarate 3.0
Fixed oil and odorous body 2.9
Soluble in alcohol— 2.7
Indif. substance ppt. by tannin
Acid resin, &c
Soluble in water—
Glucoside or saccharine matter 1.0
Mucilage 2.8
Albuminoids, organic acid, &c. 1.9
Starch 52.3
Moisture 13.6
Ash 4.6
Cellulose, &c. 15.2
Total 100.0

(Pharmacogr. Ind. III. 418-419.)


1241. Amomum xanthioides, Wall., h,f.b.i., vi. 239.

Vern. :— Iláyechi (H.) ; Elâch (B.) ; Elam (Tam.) ; Elakulu (Tel.) ; Eláchi (Mar.).

Habitat : — Tenasserim ; Tavoy.

Herbs, perennial, widely creeping. Root-stock leafy ; stems 5-6ft. Leaves 1-1½ft. by l½-3in., firm, bright-green, lanceolate, glabrous. Spike globose, shortly peduncled, lin., few-fid. Peduncle arcuate, glabrous, slender, 2-3in.; outer bracts ½-¾in., acute, glabrous, small, oblong. Corolla tube under lin.; segments oblong, ⅓-½in. Lip cochleariform, bifid, longer than the corolla-segments with an orbicular blade, ½-¾in. broad, narrowed suddenly to a broad claw. Anther-crest auricled on each side, short, broad, entire. Capsule rigid, echinate, oblong-trigonous, pale-brown, under lin. long.