cusconine

[Eng., ., cusco; -ine.] Chem.: An alkaloid, C23H26 N2O4, obtained from Cusco cinchona bark. It occurs along with aricine, Barks containing these alkaloids give off brown vapors when heated, while those containing quinine give off red vapors. [CINCHONA BARK.] An alcoholic solution of comminuted cusco-bark is su per saturated with soda and shaken with ether, and the ethereal liquid is agitated with acetic acid, which takes up the greater part of the alkaloids. The acetic solution is partly neutralized with ammonia, which throws down aricine acetate, and the filtrate is mixed with a saturated solution of ammonium sulphate, which precipitates cusconine as sulphate, from which cusconine can be obtained as a dark blue color, changing to olive-green when heated, and again turning blue as the liquid cools. cus-cŭs, cous-sous, s . [A Molucca island word.] Zool .: The name given in the Moluccas to a Mar prehensile tail and large eyes. Its progre ion is supial mammal, Phalangist a cavifrons . It has a slow. ( Dallas.) cus-cu-ta, s . [Sp. cuscuta: Fr. cuscute: Ital. cuscuta, cu uta ; Dan. kaskute ; all generally believed to be from Arab. cochout , keshut =dodder, or rather one of the names of dodder, the common one in that language being aftimüm . Hooker & Arnott suggest as an alternative etymology Heb. chhuts = to bend, to surround.] Bot. The typical genus of Cuscutacese. The calyx is four to five-cleft; the corolla campanulate, four to five-lobed, the tube sometimes, though rarely, with internal scales; styles two; ovary two celled, with two ovules in each; capsule two-celled, bursting all round. The species are plants, with long filiform twining stems. The common species is Cuscuta europe a, with red stems and pale yellowish-rose flowers. It is found on nettles, thistles, . C.epithymum (Le er Dodder), which has white flowers, is found on furze, heath, and thyme. C. racemosa is used in Brazilian pharmacy.