164 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



pubescent outside. Stamens 30-40 ; filaments short ; anthers 

 linear, hairy at base, glabrous above, cells unequal, the outer 

 longer ; appendix of connective as long as the anther. ' Ovary 

 tomentose, style filiform, stigma minute. Fruit ovoid, 2-2\ in. 

 long, splitting open into valves, fruiting-Calyx small, segments 

 reflexed. Cotyledons filled with fat (Piney tallow)— Brandis. 

 Piney gum — resin, says Gamble, (.P. So, Indian Timbers), makes 

 an excellent varnish. One of the handsomest trees in Madras 

 and Travancore. 



Part* used : — The oil, and resin. 



Use : — Under the influence of gentle heat, it combines with 

 wax and oil and forms an excellent resinous ointment ; it forms 

 a good substitute for officinal resin (G. Bidie.y From the fruit 

 is obtained a solid fatty oil, which has obtained considerable 

 repute as local application in chronic rheumatism and some 

 other painful affections. It might be employed as a basis for 

 ointments, &c. (Ph. Ind., p. 33.) Fine shavings of the resin 

 are said by Irvine to be administered internally to check 

 diarrhoea (Watt). 



N. 0. MALVACE^. 



143. Althcea officinalis, Linn., h.f.b.l, i. 319- 



This is the English Marsh-mallow, which yields " Gui- 

 mauve," the sweet soft lozenges of which are used for sore-throat. 



Vern. : — The flowers, Gul-Khairu (Hind, and Bomb.) fShe- 

 rnaituti (Tarn.) 



The fruits, Tukm-i-khitme (Pers. and Bomb.") 



The roots. Piesha-i-khitme (Pers. and Bomb.) 



Habitat : — Kashmir. 



A perennial, uniformly downy herb. Stem erect, 2-3 ft. 

 Leaves ovate or ovoid, simple or slightly lobed, annular, base 

 scarcely cordate, unequally toothed. Stipules linear-subulate. 

 Flowers peduncled, in axillary clusters, 1-2 in. diam., rosj 7 . 

 Bracteoles linear-lanceolate, half the length of the sepals. 

 Anthers subglobose. Ovary many-celled ; ovules one in each 



