Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Droseraceæ
The juice is used externally in bruises and burns, also to cure superficial ulcers. As a styptic it is used on fresh cuts and abrasions (Thornton in Watt's Dictionary).
Malic acid from Crassulaceœ.— The acid was prepared chiefly from Echeveria secunda glauca and Sedum purpurescens (Bryophyllum calycinum yields more, namely, about 0.23 per cent, of the leaves, but is less easily obtainable) by extraction with boiling water, precipitation of the lead salt and decomposition of this with hydrogen sulphide. The residue left on evaporation of the aqueous solution, when dried at 110° until constant in weight, has the composition C8H8G8; it represents an anhydride of the acid, for the salts prepared from it are derived from a dibasic acid, C4H6O5 . The calcium hydrogen salt is usually amorphous, but was once obtained in regular octahedra with 6 H2O; the corresponding salt of ordinary malic acid crystallises in rhombic octahedra. The barium salt is anhydrous, whereas ordinary barium malate crystallises with 1 H2 O. The silver salt is anhydrous, whereas ordinary silver malate contains 5 H2O. The lead salt crystallises with 3 H2O. No ammonium hydrogen salt could be prepared, whereas ordinary malic acid forms a well crystallised salt of this composition. The dimethylic salt was prepared from the anhydride and methylic alcohol by Anschiitz's method ; it distils at 162° under 25m m. pressure : after this has passed over, a second product was obtained, to which reference will be made later.— J. Ch. S. 1898 A.I., p. 513 et seq.
N. 0. DROSERACEÆ.
485. Drosera peltata, Sm. h.f.b.l, i. 424.
Vern. :-Mukha-jali (H.); Chitra (Pb.)
Habitat: — Throughout India.
A perennial herb. Stem erect, leafy, 3-12in. high, simple or corymbose upward. Leaves alternate, long-petioled, lunate-peltate. Racemes subterminal. Pedicels ⅓-½in. long. Flowers white, sepals ovate, glabrous, erose or fimbriate. Styles 3, fim briate. Seeds obovoid. Testa prominently reticuluted.
Part used : — The leaf.
Use : —The leaves of this curious and insectivorous plant, bruised and mixed with salt, are used as a blister in Kumaon. This same practice prevails, however, in Kanáwar, without the use of salt. All the members of this family have a bitter, acrid and caustic flavor. If placed in milk they rapidly curdle it (Watt).
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