206 MALV ACE. 
SIDA CARPINIFOLIA, Zinn. 
Fig.— Wight Ic., t.95; Hort. Mal. z., 53. 
SIDA RHOMBIFOLIA, Linn. 
Fig.— Cav. Diss. I., t. 3, f, 12. 
SIDA CORDIFOLIA, Linn. 
Fig. —Dil. Hl. 171, f. 209. 
SIDA SPINOSA, Linn. 
Fig.— Cav. Diss. I., t. L729. 
- Hab.—The tropics generally. The roots. 
Vernacular.—8. carpinifolia, rhombifolia and cordifolia, 
Baridra (Hind.), Bala, Jangli-meth{ (@uz.), Tupkaria, Tukati, 
Chikana, Pata (Mar.), Malai-tangi, Mayir-manikham (Zam.); 
Chitimutti, Mayir-manikkam (T’/.), Svet-berela, Koreta, Bon- 
methi (Beng.) S. spinosa, Gulsakari (Hind.). . 
History, Uses, &c.—tThe plants belonging to this 
genus are known in Sanskrit by the gencral name Bala. Five 
kinds of Bala are mentioned by Sanskrit medical writers under 
_ the name of Pancha-bala, viz., Bala, Négabala, Mahabala, 
Atibala and Rajabala. The Hindus regard the roots of the 
different species of Sida as cooling, astringent and tonic; they 
prescribe them in nervous and urinary diseases, and in fever 
The root bark is beaten up with milk and sugar, and aromatics 5 
and stimulants are sometimes added. (For original prescr'P- 
tions, see Dutt’s “Hindu Materia Medica,” p. 121.) In the 
leaves are applied in ophthalmia 3 the root-juice is used to pro 
is given in } seer doses for gon0r- 
rhea. The root of 8, carpinifolia (Tupkaria) is applied with 
_ Sparrow's dung to burat boils. ‘The Mahometans consider 
_ Bala to be aphrodisiac. Ainslie notices several species of Sida, a 
