124 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



the precipitate was filtered off, washed with alcohol and dried in vacuo over 

 sulphuric acid. The yield was two per cent, of the weight of the seeds. 

 (J. S. Ch. I 31-5-1905, pp. 55—8). 



109. Hydnocarpus Wightiana, Blume. h.f.b.l, 

 1.196. 



Vern. :— Kowti (called %\€t in Rajapur, Ratanagiri District, 

 whence the purest oil of seed, can be procured, Kadu-Kavata 



(Bomb.) ; Kosto (Goaj ; Maravettie (Tarn.) ; Xlorotti, (Mai.) ; 

 Jangli badam (seeds) ; Jangli badam ka tel (oil) <Dec.j : Niradi- 

 vittalu (seeds- ; niradi-vittulu-nane (oil) (Tel.) 



Habitat: — Western Peninsula, from the S. Concan along 

 the Coast range. 



A tall tree. Wood whitish. Twigs usually brown, pubes- 

 cent (rarely glabrate,, as are the recemes. Leaves 4-9 by 1J-4 in., 

 coriaceous or membranous, sometimes deeply obtusely serrate 

 or toothed, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, long, acuminate, base 

 round, acute or subcordate. Petiole J-| in. Flowers 1 in. 

 diain., solitary or racemed : white, pentandrous. Sepals green, 

 pubescent, 3 inner ones longer. Petals ciliate, twice as long 

 as the ovate, fimbriate scales. Stamens villous at base, equalling 

 the petals. Female flowers with imperfect stamens. Ovary 

 densely pubescent. Fruit a berry, 2-4 in., of the size of a small 

 orange, with a hard rind, many-seeded, tomentose. Seeds 

 obtusely angular, embedded in pulp, testa crustaceous, striate. 

 Albumen oily ; colyledons very broad, flat. 



Parts used : — The seeds. 



Use : — The seeds have long been used as a domestic 

 remedy upou the Western Coast, in certain obstinate skin dis- 

 eases, ophthalmia, and a dressing for wounds and ulcers. The 

 oil expressed from them is used in scabby eruptions mixed with 

 an equal portion of Jatropha curcas oil, sulphur, camphor and 

 lime-juice. For scald head, equal parts of the oil and lime 

 water are used as a liniment. The oil has been recommended 

 as a substitute for Ghaulmogra. and is being used in the 

 Bombay Presidency, with satisfactory results. In the Konkan 

 also, the oil has a reputation as a remedy for Barsati in horses. 



