134 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



It is a powerful sternutatory, and is soluble in water. The solution froths 

 when agitated, like soap. When acted on by alkalies, saponine is converted 

 into saponic acid. The detergent properties of the plant appear to depend 

 on this substance (S'owerby's English Botany). 



The Indian species does not seem to have been as yet chemically 

 analysed. 



117. Poly car pcea corymbose, Lam. h.f.b.l, 

 i. 245. 



Vern, : — In Porebunder, it is called the small-leaved 

 Okharad. 



Habitat: — Throughout India, Ceylon, Burma. Found on 

 Burda Mt, in Porebunder State (J. Indraji). 



An erect or decumbent annual or perennial herb. Stems 

 6-12 in., erect or ascending, much dichotonously branched ; 

 branches very numerous, wings diffuse, 4-10 in. long, spreading 

 from the centre, hoary, tomentose or glabrescent. Leaves 

 numerous, narrow, linear or subulate, pseudo-verticillate (\i\ 

 opposite clusters), i-1 in., acuminate, acute or obtuse, much 

 exceeding the stipules. Stipules lanceolate or subulate, 

 scarious. Flowers crowded in conspicuous terminal dichotomous 

 silvery cymes, | in. Sepals somewhat unequal, 5, free with 

 scarious white margins, shining white or coloured, narrowly 

 lanceolate, j G in , very acute, keeled on the back, glabrous or 

 pilose, much exceeding the petals and capsule. Petals 5, 

 truncate, white, much, shorter than the sepals. Style 1, tip 

 3-toothed. Capsule much shorter than the calyx opening by 3 

 valves. Seeds numerous, rough, pale-brown, small. 



Use : — In Pudukota, used both externally and internally 

 as a remedy for the bites of venomous reptiles (Pharmaco- 

 graphia Indica, Vol. 1, 158). In Porebunder it is similarly 

 used as pounded leaves for bites from animals. Its pounded 

 leaves are also used with molasses in the form of a pill in 

 jaundice by the villagers of Porb under. 



The pounded leaves are also used over boils and in- 

 flammatory swellings, as poultice, warmed or cold (J. Indraji.). 



