14S POLYGONACEjE. 



Anhydrous spinach contained^ as the mean of three analyses 



of different samples^ 



en 



4-94 



Nitrog 



Carbohydrates , 37-93 



■ 



Basella alba, Lmn., Wight Ic, t. 896, is known as Indian 

 spinach, or Malabar Nightshade, and the juice of the leaves, 

 which is demulcent and cooling, is a popular application to 

 allay the heat and itching of urticaria arising from dyspepsia, 

 an affection which the Hindus consider to he indicative of bile 

 in the blood. The boiled leaves are also used as a poultice. 

 This herb is extensively cultivated as a vegetable, and bears the 

 vernacular names of Poi (Ilmd.), Mayal (Mar.), Vasala (Tarn.), 

 Bachchali (Tel), and Bili-basale (Can.). The generic name is 

 derived from the Tamil. The Sanskrit name is Potaki or TJpodika. 



of this Ordfir nrp nsprl na -nnfTiovT-io in fVip Ti^ast. In 



Many plants 



Chenopodium Botrys, Li7in., C 



Blitum, Hooic.f., and Atriplex Moneta 



used. 



Arthocnemum indicum 



a plant of the salt marshes, is used as a vegetable, and is also 



pickled. Fryer, who visited Bombay in 1694, calls it " samphire." 



Plants more generally known as vegetables are ChenopO- 



dium album, Linn., C. ambrosioides, Linn., Beta 

 vulgaris, Linu., and Atriplex hortensis, i^■rt«. The seeds 



of the Beet are sold in Indian Bazars for medicinal use, under 

 the name of Chukandar. 



POLYaONACEiE. 



POLYGONUM AVICULARE, Linn. 



^'^Z'—^»9'Bot., 1252. Knot-grass {Eng.), Renouee des 

 oiseaux {Fr.). 



Hab.— Northern Asia, Europe. Introduced 

 The root and seeds. 



into 



Vernacular. -U^^^oii, Bi jband, Kesri {Hind. ), Endrani { Sind.) 



