petroleum spirit, benzol, amyl alcohol, and carbon bisulphide. An analysis gave figures corresponding with the formula C11H18N. For this he assigns the name " Wrightine*" (Pharmacographia Indica Vol. 11, pp. 395—396).
"It appears desirable that the investigation should be extended to the bark and seeds." (Ph. J. Feb. 27, 1880).
756. Tabernœmontana dichotoma, Roxb. h.f.b.i., iii. 645 ; Roxb. 248.
Vern. : — Pili-karbir, Kener zard (Pb.) ; Caat-aralie (Tam.); Odallam (M.).
Habitat: — Deccan Peninsula; common in the Western Ghats.
A small tree. Wood yellowish white, moderately hard. Milk not acid. Branches dichotomous. Bark pale-grey, smooth. Branchlets marked with scars of fallen leaves. Young parts covered with a shining resinous coat. Leaves numerous, 4-7 or even 10in., elliptic-oblong, or lanceolate-oblong, tapering to base, suddenly and shortly acuminate, obtuse, stiff and coriaceous, dark-green above, paler beneath, lateral veins numerous, horizontal, parallel, depressed above, prominent beneath. Petiole ½-1¼in., stout. Flowers few, white, throat and tube yellow, very sweet-scented, on long, stout pedicels ; cymes in axils of terminal pair of leaves, lax ; peduncle 2-6in., stout, glabrous : bracts small ovate, fleshy, ad pressed. Calyx fleshy at base, segments rounded, glabrous: Corolla l½-3in. diam : tube ¾-1in., fleshy, lobes considerably longer oblong, obtuse, falcately twisted, often crisped at margin. Anthers acute. Ovary glabrous, style clavate ; ripe carpels about two in., pendulous, horizontally-divaricate or reflexed, broadly ovoid, blunt, flat on dorsal, rounded on vertical side, smooth, orange-yellow. Seeds ¾in., 'finely striate, surrounded by a coat of crimson pulp.
Use : — The seeds are said to be powerfully narcotic and poisonous, producing delirium and other symptoms similar to those caused by dhatura (Ainslie).
They are said by Lin d ley to be purgative. The leaves and bark act as purgatives, and are believed to be used in Java as substitutes for senna ; the milky sap is also described as cathartic (Watt).
