566 SOLANACEZ. 
Commerce.—Several varieties of C. frutescens are cultivated 
throughout the plains of India for local consumption which is 
very large, but of which statisticsare notavailable. .C.minimuin 
is common asa weed of cultivation in most: parts of India, 
but is little used by the natives. The average:-value of: capsi- 
cums in the Bombay market is-about Rs. 12. per cwt. 
WITHANIA SOMNIFERA, Dunal. 
| Fig.—Jacq. ‘Bel, tt. 22,23 ; Sibth. Fl. Greec., t. 233 ; Wight 
d., t. 853; Eheede, Hort. Mal. ww., t. 55. Moorenkappen 
(Dutch) 
.. Hab.—Dry sub-tropical India, West Coast. Southern 
Europe. The root and leaves. 
Vernacular.—Asgandh (Hind., Guz.), Asvagandhé (Beng.), 
Asvagandh4é, Tula, Dorgunj, Kanchuki (Mar.), Amkitléng- 
kalang (Tam.), Pénérré-gadda (Tel.), Hirimaddina (Can.). 
History, Uses, &c.—This plant bears the Sanskrit 
names of Asvagandha, Turagi or Turangi, and Turagi-gandha, 
‘* smelling like a horse or mare”; Varaha-karni, “ boar-eared”; 
Vrisha, “amorous,” &c. It is described in the Nighantas 
as tonic, alterative, pungent, astringent, hot and aphrodisiacs 
and is recommended in rheumatism, cough, dropsy, consump= 
tion and senile debility. Chakradatta recommends it in 
decoction with long pepper, butter and honey in consumption 
and scrofula. A ghrita or medicinal butter prepared by boil- 
ing together one part of the root with one part of clarified 
butter and ten of milk may be used in such cases. As an 
c and as a remedy for rheumatism the drug is usually 
RET with a number of aromatics, each dose contains about 
30. grains of the root.. It is also made into a paste with 
aromatics for local application in rheumatism. Indian Maho- 
metan writers merely repeat what the Hindus say about this 
_ drug, and do not recognise in it the Kaknaj-el-manoum of the 
. io Goa ee So-mepeoeen tp erates tewwunip of 
