RUTACEZ. 249 
A plant called y<paov is mentioned by Dioscorides (iii. 122,) 
- having a fruit like the the head of a crane (yepaves) ; it appears 
_ to have been used as an astringent in certain affections of 
the vagina. Pliny (26, 68) mentions three kinds of this plant 
which have been identified with Hrodiwm moschatwm, Aiton, 
Geranium molle, Linn., and Geraniwm tuberosum, Linn. 
Geranium Robertianum, Linn., Herb Robert (Eng.), Bec de 
grue, Robertin (f'r.), a native of Europe and of the West tem- 
perate Himalaya, was formerly used in Europe as a vulnerary in 
hemorrhages, and as an application to tumours and ulcers; 
internally it was given in gravel, jaundice and ague. It has 
a strong odour and a bitter, saline and astringent taste. In 
America Geranium maculatum, Linn., a native of Canada and 
the United States, is official, and the root is known as Alum 
root; it contains tannic and gallic acids (Tilden), to which it 
owes its medicinal properties. (Fig.—Bentl. and Trim. 42.) 
The Indian Geraniums used medicinally, the names of which 
are placed at the head of this article, have the astringent 
properties common to the genus. The root of G. nepalense 
_ affords abundance of red colouring matter, and is used for 
colouring medicinal oils like alkanet (Ratanjot). 
Aitchison in his article upon the Kuram Valley Flora 
observes that the root of G. Wallichianum is called Mimiran 
by the Afghans, and is used as an astringent appleenen, to 
the eyes, (Journ. Linn. Soc., xviii+, p. 26.) 
The Arabs call the wild Soe Thrat-ur-raai or 
Shepherd’s needle. 
RUTACEAE. 
RUTA GRAVEOLENS, Linn., var. angustifolia. 
Fig—Bot. Mag. 2811. Garden Rue (Ling.), Rue des o 
jardins (Fr.). a 
Hab.—Cultivated in the East, The hariesse 
Vernacular.—Sudéb (Hind., Mar., Guz.), 
. Saddpa, Arudu (Tel.), Nagadali-sappu (Can.). 
32 
