232 STERCULIACE. 
Hab.—Central and Western India and Western Peninsula, 
Ceylon. The fruit and root. 
Vernacular.—Marori, Marorphali (Hind.), Mriga-shinga 
(Guz.), Kevani, Varkati, Dhdmani (Mar.), Valumbirikai (Tam.), 
Atmorha (Beng.). 
History, Uses, &c.—This is a tall shrub, or small tree, 
much resembling the common hazel; the flowers, which are 
bright red and showy, appear in the rains. In Sanskrit it is 
called Avartani and Mriga-shinga or “deer’s horn.” The 
peculiar twisted form of the carpels has probably led to its 
use as a medicine according to the ancient doctrine of signatures. 
‘Ainslie notices its use by the Hindus as a remedy for offensive 
sores inside the ears. At the present time it enters into most. 
prescriptions for the cure of griping in the bowels and flatu- 
lence, especially in the case of children. Its chief virtue 
Seems to be its harmlessness. It is indispensable at the 
marriage ceremonies of the Vaisya caste, being tied upon 
the wrist of bride and bridegroom along with the fruit of 
Randia dumetorwm. Persian names for it are Kisht-bar-kisht 
and Pechak. It is the Kisht-bar-kisht of Ibn Sina, who 
describes it as hot and dry in the third degree. In the 
Concan the root-bark is prescribed in diabetes. We have 
been unable to discover that this plant has any properties 
beyond those of a demulcent and wild astringent. ‘The roots 
may be used as a substitute for althea. 
Description.—The fruit consists of five slender angular 
carpels, twisted like a corkscrew, and together forming @ cone 
about 13 to 2 inches long. The carpels are pubescent, and of 
a greenish brown colour ‘ they contain a single row of dark 
brown angular seeds. The internal’ surface is of a light 
greenish hue and highly polished; taste mucilaginous. The 
_ root bark is of a dark-brown colour, and is very thickly studded 
with small round warts so as to present almost the appearance 
_of Shagreen. 
—. Commerce.—The fruit is kept in all druggists’ shops, and aS 
_ a domestic remedy is perhaps one of the best known articles 3 
