200 RUBIACEZ. 
Vernacular.—Kiri-purand4n (Y'am.), Sarpashi-chettu (Tel.), 
Rasna, Nékuli (Hind.), Nanjére, Rashme (Can-), “a 
Munguavel (Mar.), Mungusvel, Nakuli (Guz.). 
History, Uses, &c.—This plant is described in oulgil 
krit in the following terms :— 
Nakuli, Surasa, Rasné, Sugandha, Gandhanakuli, 
Nakuleshta, Bhujangakshi, Chhatrica, Suvaha, Nava. 
The fifth and sixth synonyms signify that its odour is agree-_ 
able to the Ndkula, and the seventh that it is offensive to 
snakes. 
It was first brought to the notice of Europeans re Garcia. 
Keempfer, who calls the root Radia Mungo (Amen. 573 and 
577), says of it;—‘ Radix est, plantee Malaicé Ham: 
Tanab, id est, Fel terre dicta, 4 sapore amarissimo omnium feré 
tium, presertim radicis, que intensam bilis amarl 
exhibit, Lusitanis ibidem Raiz sen radix Mungo “pp 
mustela quadam seu viverra, Indis Mungutia, Lusitanis ibidem 
Mungo, Batavis Muncus. Garciz ab Hort, (Ar. Hist, L.t., & 
Quil et Quirpele appellata, que radicem monstrasse, et us 
ejus pro alexipharmico prima mortalibus prodidisse creditur: 
Est mustele huic is genius, ut serpentem naturali odio 
sequatur; et velut glirem catus invadat, Tradunt igitur, 
contingat morderi muncum, serpentis astutia roboreve Vi 
relicto hoste, pro alexipharmaco hanc radicem quzrere, et 
ejus illico restitutum, certamen redintegrare. Sit fides 
penes indigenas. Hoc tantum de mustela hac exploratum 
habeo, morsam 4 vipera, vel luctu fatigatum, dimisso victor 
ex paleostra in campum excurrere et obvias depascere herbaru 
radiculas, mox pastu, ut opinor refectam, rursus comparere 
certamen, cum hoste, si adsit, redauspicandum. » Kempfer 
also says that the plant to his knowledge grows in Java 
Ceylon, and Sumatra, is a foot or more in height, and nob 
unlike the lesser Centaury. It has a single root, a Bee 
length and as thick as the finger, much contorted, wit 
_ rough, brown, closely-adhering corky bark, and a hard, W 
fragile w ce column 5 it has a bitter taste like Gentian | 
