7. The colouring matter is a reddish-brown, brittle resin of the formula
C15H14O6, and, up to the present, has resisted all attempts to obtain it in a
crystalline condition, It softens at about 100°, and melts at 100-110°. Dilute alkalis dissolve it with a purple-violet coloration, and the corresponding salts are obtained as violet, amorphous precipitates, on adding common salts to these solutions. From its nature and properties, it appears possible that it is allied to alkanin, C15H14O4, the colouring matter of the roots of the Anchusa tinctoria. Alkanin is also of a resinous nature. It is possible, therefore, that the coloring matter of the Ventilago madraspatana, for which the name of ventilagin is proposed, is represented by alkanin containing two additional hydroxyl groups.— J. Ch. S. T. 1894, p. 924 et seq.
285. V. calyculata, Tulasne. h.f.b.l, i. 631.
Syn : : — V. Madraspatana, Roxb., Roxb. 211.
[King Journ. As. Soc, Bengal, Vol. 65 (1897) 379] considers this to be a variety of V. Madraspatana, so also does Duthie (Fl. of the Upper Gang. Plain, p. 162).
Vern. : — Rai ohani (H.) ; Raktapita (B.) ; Bonga-sarjun, dœsaraj, noduâr (Kol.) ; Bonga-sarjom (Santal) ; Raktapita kala lag (Kumaon) ; Papri (C. P.); Sakal yel (Mar.); Zerra chiotali (Tel.); Karkandi châyeh ; Kányel (Bomb.).
Habitat: —Throughout hotter parts of India, from the Kumaon Himalaya and Nepal to Bhutan.
Sylhet, Tenassarim. Dun, Saharanpur. Throughout the Western Peninsula.
A large woody climber, with strong tendrils. Branchlets pubescent. Bark dark grey. Leaves 2-4 by 1-2½in., ovate or oblong-elliptic, more or less acute, cuneate or entire, sub-coriaceous, pubescent when young; lateral nerves 6-8 pair, arcuate ; base unequal ; petiole 1/5-2/5in. pubescent. Flowers numerous, small, greenish, in large terminal panicles. Calyx pubescent; lobes 5, keeled inside. Petals 5, deflexed. Disk 5-lobed, filling the Calyx-tube. Ovary 2-celled, sunk in disk. Style short, prolonged and winged on both sides in fruit. Fruit a sub-globose nut, 1/5in, diam., girt about middle by ten rims of the adherent Calyx-tube and prolonged into a wing, which is 1-1½ by ⅓-2/5 in., linear, strongly reaticulate and with a prominent straight midrib.
