N. 0. NYMPHiECE^, 75 



Dekkan, but it has been mentioned by Pandit Jaya Krishna 

 Indraji and Dr. Tribhuvandas M. Shah, in their respective works. 

 The flowers of Nelumbium speciosum open at sunrise and 

 close at sunset. Hence, they are called Surya-vikashi or 

 Surya-Kamal ; whereas Nymphcea stellata opens at sunset 

 and closes at sunrise, and is hence called Ohandra-vikashi 

 (K. R. K.) 



N.B.— It is the i Lotus ' of the Europeans in the East ; the Cyainus or 

 i Sacred Bean ' of ancient Egypt, where it does not grow now (Triinen). 



Farts used :— The filaments, seeds, leaves, and root. 



Uses: — By Sanskrit authors, the filaments are considered 

 astringent and cooling, useful in burning sensation of the body, 

 bleeding piles and monorrhagia. In bleeding piles, the fila- 

 ments of the lotus are given, with honey and fresh butter, or 

 with sugar. 



The large leaves are used as cool bedsheets, in high fever, 

 with much heat and burning of the skin (Dutt's Materia 

 Medica of the Hindus). The seeds are used to check vomiting, 

 and given to children as diuretic and refrigerant. The milky 

 viscid juice of the leaf and flower stalks is used in diarrhoea. 

 The petals are said to be slightly astringent. 



The large root stalks are cut into 1 foot pieces, and sold under 

 the name of Bliishi ; they afford a cooling, refreshing dish, when 

 cooked in milk or cocoanut juice, with salt or sugar. 



A sherbet of this plant is used as refrigerant in small-pox, 

 and is" said to stop eruption ; used also in all eruptive fevers, 

 The root is used as a paste in ringworm and other cutaneous 

 affections. (Dr. Emerson.) 



The flowers are used as an astringent in diarrhoea, also 

 cholera, in fever and diseases of the liver ; and are also recom- 

 mended as a cardiac tonic. 



The powdered root is prescribed for piles as a demulcent ; 

 also for dysentery and dyspepsia. 



The seeds form a cooling medicine for cutaneous diseases 

 and leprosy, and are considered an antidote for poisons. 



