62 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



deeply lobed ; ovary 1, hairy, style shortly 3-fid. Drupe hairy, 

 globose scarlet, J inch diara. Endocarp transversely ridged 

 and tuberculate. Seed horse-shoe-shaped. 



Parts used :— The root, bark and leaves. 



Uses: — Sanskrit writers consider the root to be light, bitter, 

 astringent and useful in fever, diarrhoea, urinary diseases, dys- 

 pepsia, etc. 



Ainslie writes : — " The leaves of this plant are considered by 

 the Vytians as of a peculiarly cooling quality, but the root is the 

 part most esteemed ; it has an agreeable, bitterish taste, and is 

 considered as a valuable stomachic. It is frequently prescribed 

 in the later stages of the bowel complaints, in conjunction with 

 aromatics." It is reported to be antilithic (Dymock;. 



" Used locally in cases of unhealthy sores and sinuses. Root 

 given for pains in the stomach and for dyspepsia, diarrhoea, 

 dropsy and cough ; also for prolapsus uteri. — and applied exter- 

 nally in snake bite and scorpion sting." (Watt.) 



It is officinal in the Pharmacopoeia of India, where its medi- 

 cinal properties are described as " mild tonic and diuretic exercis- 

 ing apparently an astringent and sedative action on the mucous 

 membranes of the genito-urinary organs. 



N. 0, BERBERIDEiB. 

 49. Berberis vulgaris, Linn, h.f.b.l, i. 109. 



Vern. : — Zirishk ; Kashmal ; Chachar or Chochar (Pb!) ; 

 Bedana ; Cutch (Pers-\ Chatrod (Jaunsar), 



Habitat : — Himalaya from Nepal westward, in shady forests, 

 above 8,000 ft., Jaunsar and Tehri-Garhwal 12,000 ft., Simla, 

 Narkunda, 8,000—12,000 ft, Tibet, Afghanistan. 



A small, deciduous, thorny shrub. Bark brown or grey, 

 £ in. thick. Wood lemon-yellow, moderately hard, even-grained. 

 Annual rings marked by an irregular belt of small pores, which 

 are larger than those in the rest of the wood. Leaves 1-3 in. long, 

 broadly ovate, or spathulate, membranous or thinly-coriaceous, 



