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History, Uses, &C. — This shrub, in Sanskrit Arani, 



Harimantha, Agni-mantha, and Vahnimantha^ ''producii 

 by friction/' is so named on account of its wood being one of 

 those used to obtain the sacred fire. Gamble states that in 

 Sikkim the hill tribes habitually make use of the wood of 

 P. latifoUa and P. mucronata for obtaining fire. Of the two 

 pieces of wood used by the Hindus for this purpose^ the lower or 

 soft wood is called in Sanskrit Adhararani, and the upper or hard 

 wood, with which friction is made, is called the Pramantha ; 

 they are considered to be symbolical of the Yoni and Upastha 

 (organs of generation). 



In the Nighantas Arani is described as hot, an expellant of 

 phlegm and wind. 



Its root is one of the ingredients of the Dasamula, and the 

 leaves are a popular remedy m the exanthematous fevers. 

 Ainslie states that the root has a warm bitter taste and agreeable 

 smell, and is prescribed in decoction as a gentle cordial and 

 stomachic in fevers. Rheede calls the plant Appel^ and notices 

 the use of a decoction of the leaves for flatulence. Ainslie also 

 remarks that it is the Folium hirci of Rumphius and that 

 Burman calls it Cornutia corymhosa and Herman Sambiicus 

 odorata aromatica. In Ceylon it is known as Maha-midi ov Midi- 

 gass. Atkinson states that the leaves rubbed with pepper are 

 administered in colds and fevers, and that externally a decoctioD 

 of the whole plant is used in rheumatism and neuralgia. 



Description, 



in the rainy season. Trunk 



blossoming 



dark 



site, petiole d, cordate, 



margins, acute 



pointed, smooth on both sides, from 1 to 6 inches long and from 

 1 to 3 inches broad ; flowers in corymbs^ terminal or between 

 two branchlets, primary divisions opposite, the last 2 -forked, 

 flowers minute, numerous, of a pale greenish- white ; berries 

 black, the size of a pea. The plant has an agreeable aromatic 

 odour and an acidulous and astringent taste. 



