PLANTS OF A BOMBAY SWAMP. 89 



RuTACBiB by Peganum Harmala, Linn. " Ispanda, harmala,' 

 an herb peculiar to salt-soils and having a strong odour, 

 resembling Rue and credited -with medicinal virtues, rather 

 too wide to be deep. 



Ampelide^; by Vitis carnosa, Wall. u Ambat-vel," a common 

 climbing plant in the Concan; the succulent trifoliolate leaves, 

 when tasted, are at first a pleasant acid, but it soon becomes 

 violently acrid. It is described as a domestic application to 

 boils in " Pharmcographia Indica." 



Leguminos^e by Alysicarpus rugosus, D.G., and Eryihrina 

 indica, Linn., l< Pangara." The solitary plant of this species 

 is on the side of the Vellard and somewhat out of the reach 

 of water. It has more the appearance of a truly wild tree 

 . than other examples near Bombay have — still it can scarcely 

 be said to be indigenous to the district. 



Lythkace^; by Ammania bacctfera, Linn,, and numerous 

 vigorous seedlings of Lawsonia alba, Lamk. " Mendi " or 

 " Hinna." Those seedlings indicate the class of soil adapted 

 for this plant should the vagaries of fashion again call for 

 its production as a commercial product. 



Onagkace^: by Ludwigia parviflora, Roxb., which is found on 

 the muddy banks of tanks throughout the country. 



Passiflorace^: by Carica papaya, Linn. " Papay " in numer- 

 ous healthy seedlings. 



Cucuebitea^e by Luff a echinatus, Roxb., and by another plant 

 so far spent as to be difficult to determine, it is probably 

 Citrullus ftstulosus, Stocks., a bitter form of the water melon. 



FicoiDEiE by Tfianthema monogyna, Linn. ' Vishkapra " 

 and two widespread species of Mollugo — M. hirta, Thunb., 

 and M. spergula, Linn., " Jharas." 



Umbellifer^ by those useful plants fennel : Fceniculum 

 vulgare, Gsertn., " Bari shopha," and Carum copticum, Benth., 

 " Ajwan." The vigour of both species shows that they are 

 indifferent to salt in the soil. 



Composite by the widespread weed Vernonia cinerea, 

 Less., "Sahadevi." Used to promote perspiration. Also 

 Ageratum conyzoides, Linn., Blumea membranacea, D.C., 



u 



