376 OLEACEAE. 
OLEACEA, 
NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS, Linn. 
Fig.—Bot. Reg., t. 399; Bedd. Fl. Syl., t. 240; Gartn. 
Fruct.ii., t. 188. Weeping Nyctanthes, Night Jasmine (Hng.), 
Nictanthe Arbre-triste (F'r.), Arvore da notte (Port.). 
Hab. —Central India. Cultivated throughout India, The 
leaves, fruit and bark. 
Vernacular.—Harsinghér, Har, Sihéru (Hind.), Sephalika 
(Beng.), Partaka, Khurasli (Mar.), Manja-pu (Tam.), Harsing 
(Can.), Poghada (Tel.), Paktira (Punj.). 
History, Uses, &c.—Royle in his Himalayan Botany 
states that this tree is extremely common along the foot of 
the mountains which skirt the Dehra Dhoon, and may be seen 
for several hundred feet above Rajpore in the ascent to 
Mussoorie. Dr. Wallich found it in a wild state near the 
banks of the Irrawaddy, on the hills near Prome. In all parts 
of India it is one of the commonest cultivated shrubs, its 
flowers open at sunset, and fall before morning; they have a 
very strong perfume. The Sanskrit names for the tree are 
Sephélika; Périjétaka; Rajanihdsa, ‘ night-smiling”’ ; and 
Atyth4, “very pensive.’ According to the Indian legend, a 
certain Naga (prince) called Périjata had a daughter of whom 
the Sun became enamoured, but he soon deserted her for 
another sweetheart; whereupon the damsel pined away and 
died of grief. Upon the spot where she died sprang up the 
tree P4rijataka, whose flowers have such a dread of the Sun 
that they fall from the tree in the early morning before he 
rises. 
Chakradatta mentions the use of the leaves in fever and 
rheumatism ; a decoction of the leaves prepared over a gentle 
fire is recommended by several writers as a specific for obstinate 
sciatica. In the Concan about 5 grains of the bark are eaten 
with Betel-nut and leaf to promote the aprgoe of thick © 
phlegm. 
