108 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



J- T 3 a in. ; petiole about § in. long, stout. Flowers large, 3 in, 

 across, solitary or in terminal bracteate, short racemes ; bracts 

 linear, red-tomentose, pedicels H in. long. Petals paleblue or 

 white, the lower two each with a yellow spot at the base. Fila- 

 ments as long as the petals. Gynophore 1-1 J in. long; ovary 

 tomentose. Fruit ovoid, beaked, size of a large olive. 



Uses: — The leaves are used for rheumatic pains in the 

 joints, and its flowers as a laxative drink. (Voigt. 74.) 



95. 0. aphylla, Roth, h.f.b.l, i. 174. 



Sans. : — -Karira. 



Vevn. : — Karil, Karer Kurrel, lete, Kara (H.) ; Kari (Behar, 

 Bom.); Kirra Kerin, Karil, Karia, Karis, teuti, delha pinju 

 (Pb.), Kiral, Kirrur, dora Kiram, Kiram, Kirad (Sind.) ; Ker 

 (Guz.) ; Kera, Karil (Mar.) ; Karyal (Deck). 



Habitat:— In the arid desert tracts of the Punjab, Rajputana, 

 Guzerat, the Deccan and S. Carnatic. 



Shrubs dense, much-branched, glabrous, with thorns in 

 pairs, straight; leaves (only on young shoots) glabrous, linear, 

 pungent, buds pubescent. Branches slender, glabrous. Flowers 

 1 in. diam., red-brown, in many-flowered corymbs, on short 

 shoots. Outer sepals subvalvate, ciliate, inner saccate. Stamens 

 18-20. Fruit J ^ in., glabrous, long beaked. 



Parts used : — The shoots, fruit and bark. 



Uses : — The bark is described by the Hindoo writers as 

 bitter and laxative, and is said to be useful in inflammatory 

 swellings (U. C. Dutt.) The fruit is eaten pickled in Bombay by 

 Hindus, Bhatias especially. 



In the Punjab, the top shoots and young leaves are made 

 into a powder and used as a blister (Stewart) ; it is also used 

 in boils, eruptions and swellings, and as an antidote to poison ; 

 also in affections of the joints (B. Powell). 



According to Surg.-Major Calthrop, the fruit when eaten 

 causes obstinate constipation. It is used largely in the Harriana 

 and Karnal Districts as an astringent. 



The top shoots and young leaves are very efficacious in 

 relieving toothache when chewed. (Murray, Plants and Drugs 



