N. 0. CAPPARIDE-E. 99 



Aii annual herb, I -3ft., erect, sparingly branched, softly 

 sessile, ovate, entire, terminal the largest, lateral often unequal 

 at base ; petioles J-l in., becoming shorter above and uppermost 

 (bracts) often sessile ; flowers lemon-yellow, f in. diam., on 

 axillary pedicels h in. long ; sepals ovate, acute ; petals twice 

 the length of sepals, obtuse long-clawed, 2 approximate, 2 

 divaricate; Stamens 12-24, anthers curled, blue-black; pod 

 2-4 in. without a gynophore, erect, linear, cylindrical tipped by 

 glabrous blunt style, very viscous ; seeds black, finely ridged 

 on back. 



A common weed in cultivated ground. Throughout the 

 tropical regions of the world. 



Parts used \ — The seeds, leaves and roots. 



Uses : — The seeds used as anthelmintic and carminative by 

 the Vytians (Ainslie) ; the juice of the leaves poured into the 

 ear to relieve ear-ache, and the bruised leaves are applied to the 

 skin as a counter-irritant. 



In Cochin China, the whole plant, bruised, is used for 

 counter-irritation and blistering. (O'Shaughnessy). 



According to Moodeen Sheriff, the seeds are anthelmin- 

 tic, rubefacient and vesicant. The seeds are valuable in expelling 

 round worms, and also as a rubefacient and vesicant in all the 

 complaints in which mustard is used. The leaves are also 

 useful in the same way as a local stimulant, and the juice 

 possesses a curative influence over some cases of otalgia and 

 otorrhoea. The seeds are used internally in powder with 

 sugar, aud externally in the form of a poultice or paste by 

 bruising with vinegar, lime-juice or hot-water, and their juice 

 for the use of the ear is pressed out by bruising them without 

 water. As a rubefacient and vesicant, the seeds under examina- 

 tion are much superior to the mustard seeds in this country, 

 and quite equal to the mustard imported from Europe' 



Used by the aboriginals of Australia to relieve headache. 

 In the United States, the roots are said to be used as a vermifuge. 

 Ph. J. Sep. i. 1888, p. 179. 



The seeds are given occasionally in fevers and diarrhoea 

 (Lindley). 



