554 CYP BRACED. 



CYPERUS SCARIOSUS, i2. Br. 



Fig. C. B. Clarke, Linn^ Soc, Journ. cex-L, 159. 



Hab. — Damp places in Bengal. The tubers. 



Vernacular. ~y, a gSLT-mothsi [Hind., Guz.),. Nagar-mutha 

 {Beng.), ^Lav^la, Ndgar-motha {Mar.), Muttah-kach [Tarn.), 

 Kola-tunga-muste [Tel.], Konnari (Ca?i.). 



History, Uses, &C.— This plant produces the aromatic 

 tubers which have long: been in use in Hindu medicine and 

 perfumery under the Sanskrit name of Nagar-mustaka ; they 

 are considered to have the same medicinal properties as those 

 of C. rohmdus, Arabian and Persian writers mention this 

 Indian Cyperus, but consider it to be inferior to G. rotundas. 

 In the Concan, Nagarmoth, Solamim indicttm, Tinospora 

 cm^difolia^ Ginger and Emblic myrobalans, of each 2 tolas, are 

 powdered and divided into 5 parts, and one part taken daily 

 in decoction with a little honey and long pepper as a febrifuge. 

 Several other prescriptions of a similar nature are used in fever, 

 and will be found in the WanamJi&di Prakasha, In dysentery., 

 Nagarmoth, Mocharas, Lodhra, Daitiphul ( Woodfordia floribicndu 

 flowers), unripe Bael fruit, and the seeds of Eolarrhena 

 anUdysenterica are ground with whey and molasses and given 

 in 6 massa doses. In famine seasons Nagarmoth has proved 

 a valuable resource to the poor. 



Descript 



developed 



upon a thin underground stem, and are simple or branched, 

 generally about 2 inches long and ^ an inch in diameter ; the 

 external surface is marked by a number of an-nular ridges, and is 



of leaves ; when these are 



almost 



remams 



the -colour 



rootlets arise from its under surface, and at the lower end is a 

 portion of the underground stem. The substance of the tuber 

 is hard and of a reddish colour ; it is divided into a central and 

 cortical portion, the latter being of a darker colour* The odour 

 is strongly aromatic like Acorus, but somewhat terebinthinate • 

 The plant is aquatic and grows in the Concan in ponds and 



