366 SAPINDACEZ, 
to the presence in their tissues of needle-shaped crystals of 
oxalate of lime, which act as a mechanical irritant ; as has been 
shown in the case of the Arums by Pedler and Warden. These 
acrid plants on being dried lose their acridity from the adhesion 
together of the bundles of needle-shaped crystals in the plant 
cells so as to form blunt crystalline masses. The dried tubers 
and stems can therefore be administered medicinally, and are 
useful as antacids and diuretics from the large quantity of potash 
and lime salts which they contain. 
SAPINDACE, 
CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM, 
Linn. 
Fig.—Bot. Mag. t. 1049; Griff. Ic. Pl. As. te., t. 599, 
f- 3. Heart Pea (Eng.), Pois de Marveille, Coeur des Indes 
(Fr.). 
Hab.—India. The herb. 
Vernacular.—Lataphatkari, Nay4phatki (Beng. ), Kéna-phata 
(Hind.), Mooda-cottan (Tam.), Bodha, Shib-jal, Kanphuti 
(Mar.), Karodio (Guz.), Kanékaia (Can.), Vekkudu-tige, Bodha 
(Tel.). 
History, Uses, &c.—Sanskrit writers mention this 
plant under the name of Karna-sphota and Pérdvata-padi 
(pigeon’s foot); it also bears the synonym of J yotishmati (see 
Celastrus paniculata) ; they describe the root as emetic, laxative, 
stomachic, and rubefacient ; and prescribe it in rheumatism, 
nervous diseases, piles, &c. The leaves are used in amenor- 
rhea. The following prescription is given in the Bhavaprakasha. 
Take the leaves of C. Halicacabum, impure carbonate of potash 
(sariké), acorus calamus root, root bark of Terminalia tomen- 
tosa, of each equal parts, and reduce to a paste with milk. 
About a drachm of this compound may be taken daily for three 
days in amenorrhcea. The juice of the plant is dropped into 
_ the ears to cure earache and discharge from the meatus, 
