ACHYRANTHES OBTUSIFOLIA 201 



The bruised leaves are used locally for eczema. 



Botanical Description. — A plant 2-3° high of a reddish 

 color. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, broad, notched at the apex, 

 wavy, glabrous. Petioles with a pair of spines in their axils. 

 Flowers small, yellow-green, in round axillary clusters and in 

 long terminal spikes. The pistillate flowers are sometimes sep- 

 arated from the staminate, sometimes mixed with them in the 

 lower part of the spike. Staminate : No corolla, calyx 2-5 

 parts, stamens 4-5. Pistillate : Style and stigma 2 or 3, other- 

 wise the same as the staminate. Seed vessel with 1 seed. 



Habitat. — Common in all parts. Blooms in October. 



Achyranthes obtusifolia, Lam. (A. aspera, Blanco.) 



Nom. Yulg. — Hangor, Hangot, Dokotdekot, Libay, Tag.; 

 Angod, Pam. 



Uses. — The plant has astringent and diuretic properties ; the 

 latter were observed by Dr. Cornish, who communicated the 

 facts to Waring, calling special attention to the good service the 

 drug had afforded him in dropsy. Other physicians in India 

 have confirmed these observations of Cornish. The decoction 

 is made of 60 grams of the entire plant to 750 cc. water, boiled 

 till reduced one-half and strained under pressure. Dose, 60 cc. 

 every 2 hours till diuresis is induced. 



The ashes of this plant, like those of the Amaranthus spi- 

 nosus, L., contain a large quantity of potassa, and are used for 

 washing clothes ; on this account it has received its Sanscrit 

 name Apamarga (the washer). The ashes are also mixed in an 

 infusion of ginger and given internally in dropsy. 



The flowers are bruised and applied to the bites of snakes and 

 other poisonous animals. In India there is a superstition that 

 carrying these flowers about the person will keep off scorpions. 



Botanical Description. — A plant about 3° high, the 

 stem angular and downy. Leaves opposite, downy, clasping 

 the stem, lanceolate, very obtuse and wavy. Flowers bent 

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