Biai^'ONIACEJIjJ. 15 



BIGNONIACEiE. 



OROXYLUM INDICUM, Vent 



Fig. — Wi(jM Ic, t, 1337; Bureau Monogr, Bi(jn., t. 9; 

 Uheede, Hort. Mai, e., t, 43. 



Hab. — Throughout India. The root-bark. 



Vernacular. — Arlu, Phalphala, Sona {Hind.), TsTasona, Sona 

 (Beng.)y Mulln, Tdlpalang, Miringa {PunJ.), Tetu, Jagclala 

 {Mar.), Tei\i[Guz.), Vanga adanthay (Ta?».), Tigdu-mara, Sone- 

 patta (Ca;^.), Pamania, Dundillam (TeL)y Peiani {MaL). 



History, Uses, &C. — -Tliis is a small tree, remarkable 



for its terminal spikes of large flesliy lurid flowers, wHcli 

 appear at tlie commencement of the rainy season, and are follow- 

 ed by very large, retrofracted, transvei^sely compressed, some- 

 what curved pods, with the convexity upwards. The seeds are 

 numerous, membranaceous, surrounded with a large, delicate, 

 membranaceous wing. The leaves are supra-decompound, and 

 from four to six feet long., The root-bark is of considerable 

 importance in Hindu medicine, as it is an ingredient of the 

 Dasamula (see Trihalus terrestris) ; it is considered to be astrin- 

 gent, tonic, and useful in diarrhoea and dysentery. Saran- 

 gadhara recommends the juice of Syonaka expressed from the 

 roasted bark in combination with Mocharas (sec Bomhax mala- 

 baricum) as a remedy in diarrhoea and dysentery. He also says 

 that the root-bark boiled in Sesamum oil is a good application in 

 otorrhcca. In the Nighantas the tree bears many synonyms, 

 amongst which may be mentioned Prathu-simbih, " having broad 

 j)ods," Si1ka-nasa, ^^ having a nose like a paiTot's beak,'* in 

 allusion to the flower buds, Aralu^ and Bhalluka-prlya, "dear to 

 bears." It is described as digestive, appetising, bitter^ 

 astringent, cold, pungent ; a remedy for wind, phlegm, bile, and 

 cough. The bark is much used by the agricultural classes as an 

 application to the sore-backs of draught cattle. It is ground to 

 a paste with water and an equal proportion of turmeric, and 

 rubbed on the part. Rheede notices the use of the bark as an 



