N. 0. MFNISPERMACEJS. 59 



tomentose, then glabrous. Leaves membranous from a straight or 

 cordate, sometimes slightly peltate base, suborbicular, obtuse, 

 acute or ret use ; pale beneath ; 5 basal nerves ^Brandis). 

 Petiole 1-2 in. Inflorescence. Cymes 2-3-cbotomous, often 

 many and superposed. Peduncles 1-2 in., axillary. Sepals villous, 

 6, with three bracts, outer smaller, inner spathulate. Petals 6 

 cuneate-acute, says Hooker, margins incurved. Male flowers: — 

 6 stamens ; filaments cylindrie, anthers adnate, bursting trans- 

 versely. Female flowers-. — Staminodes 6, clavate, ovaries 3; 

 styles bifid, segments subulate. Drupes red, subglobose, the size 

 of a pea. Endocarp horse-shoe-sbaped, dorsally crested and 

 echinate ; sides excavated, seed curved. Cotyledons elongate, 

 flat, scarcely broader than the radicle. 

 Part used : — The root. 



Use : — The roots have long been held in great repute among 

 snake-charmers in India as an antidote to the bites of 

 poisonous snakes. Surgeon-Colonel D D. Cunningham has 

 proved that a fluid extract of the roots, when injected into the 

 bitten place, possesses decided remedial power, though it has no 

 general action. It acts by precipitating the poison, and thus 

 rendering it inert when brought into direct relation with it, 

 prior to the absorption of the venom into the system generally. 



46. Stephania hernandifolia, Walp. H.F.B.I., 

 I. 103. 



Syn.: — Cissempelos hexandra, Roxb, G. hernandifolia, Willd., 

 Clypea hernandifolia, W. and A. Wight Ic. t. 939. 



Sans. : — Ambastha ; patba, 



Vern, '• — A'kna.di ; Nemuka ; agnad (B.) Lupuketiya-wel 

 (Sinhalese). 



Habitat: — From Nepal to C.hittagong. Singapore, Ceylon, 

 Malaya. 



A slender twiner, shoots glabrous. . Leaves 2-4 in., round- 

 ovate, acute or obtuse, peltate, cordate or truncate at base, 

 glabrous, glaucous beneath. Petiole 1-2 in., slender, divaricate. 

 Flowers greenish- white, very small, nearly sessile in small umbels 



