Myrobalans

Myrobalans, the astringent fruit of certain species of Terminalia, trees of the natural order Combretaceæ, natives of the mountains of India. T. Belerica produces great part of the myrobalans of commerce of that name; the fruit is about the size of a nutmeg, very astringent, with bitter kernels, to which intoxicating qualities have been ascribed. It is also said to be tonic, but is now scarcely used in medicine. The bark of the tree abounds in a gum, resembling gum-arabic, which is soluble in water and burns away in the flame of a candle. The kernel of the fruit is said to yield an oil which encourages the growth of the hair. Other forms of myrobalans are the Chebulic, the fruit of T. chebulica; the Citrine, the fruit of T. citrina; and the Indian, which are the small unripe fruits of either or all of the preceding. They are all chiefly in request by tanners, dyers, and the manufacturers of ink. Emblie myrobalans, the fruit of Emblia officinalis, of the natural order Euphorbiaceæ, are used in India as tonics and astringents, in tanning, and in the making of ink. For Myrobalan Plum, see PLUM.