CYCADACEM 383 



CYCADACEvE. 



CYCAS CIRCINALIS, Linn. 



Fig^—Uichard, Conif,, t. 24—26; Bot. Mag.^ t. 2826 and 

 •2827; R/ieede, Uort, Mai. in., 9, f. 13—21. 



Hab. — -Malabar Coast, Dry Hills in W. Madras. Male 

 bracts and flour. 



Vernacular, — Jungli-uiadan-mast-ka-pliul ( Hind,), Madaua- 

 kama-pu, Kamappu, Chanang kay {Tarn.), Rinbadam, Todda- 

 pana Eentha kay {MaL)^ Malabo ri-supari (Mar.). 



History, Uses, &c 



this 



used in Southern India as a narcotic, and are considered to be 

 similar in medicinal action to the flowers of Stereospermtwi sua- 

 veoleas. Both drugs are termed Madana-karaa-pu or flowers of 

 Kama, and are said to contain a property that intoxicates 

 insects that rest uj)on them. The bracts are powdered up with 

 other substances and made into a confection as an aphrodisiac. 

 Flour is made from this tree both from the stem and the nuts. 

 In Malabar the nuts arc collected and dried for a month in the 

 sun, beaten in a mortar, and the kernels form a flour which 

 is called Lidum Podi. It is reckoned superior to the flour of 

 Caryota, but inferior to rice, and is only eaten by the hill-tribes, 

 and by the poorer classes, who, from July to September, when 

 rice is scarce, are in danger of perishing. It has often been 

 confounded with true sago. Eheede states that the fruit 

 bearing cone reduced to a poultice and applied to the loins 

 removes nephritic pains. 



Description. — The bracts as sold in the bazar are of the 

 shape of a spear head, two inches long by half an inch broad 

 clothed at the back with much fulvous down. A subulate 

 incurved point rises from the exterior upper angle of each of 

 the scales. When the strobile first appears, they are closely 

 pressed together like the germs in the pineapple, but as it 

 lengthens by age, they become detached from each other. 

 Filaments none ; the anthers entirely covering the under surface 



