N. 0. MALVACEAE. 175 



acute, irregularly and coarsely dentate or erose, white, with 

 very fine, dense pubescence on both sides, especially beneath, 

 petioles very long, 1-3 in.; jointed near top. Flowers about 1 in., 

 nodding. Pedicel slender, jointed near top. Calyx lobes, 

 shallow, apiculate ; carpels 15-20, readily separating when 

 ripe, sparsely and roughly hairy on back, beak short, sharp, 

 spreading horizontally. Seeds minutely-dotted (Trimen), (Max- 

 well M. Masters). 



Flowers orange yellow, throughout the year (Ceylon), 

 \ in. diam., opening in the evening (Masters). 



Parts used : —The root ; bark ; leaves ; seeds and fruits. 



Use : — An infusion of the leaves or of the roots is pre- 

 scribed in fevers as a cooling medicine (Ainslie). The seeds are 

 reckoned aphrodisiac and are used as a laxative in piles. 



The seeds are burned on charcoal, and recta of children 

 affected with thread worms are exposed to the smoke. 



A decoction of the leaves is used as a mouth-wash in cases 

 of tooth-ache and tender gums, and also in gonorrhoea and 

 inflammation of the bladder. 



In Western India, the bark is valued as a diuretic, and the 

 seeds on account of their demulcent and mucilaginous properties 

 (Dymock). 



The infusion of the root is useful in strangury and has ura- 

 turia 



The infusion of the root is said to be useful in leprosy. 

 The seeds are given in the treatment of coughs. 



According to the Chinese in Hong-Kong, the seeds are 

 employed as an emollient and demulcent ; the root is used as a 

 diuretic and pulmonary sedative, and the flowers and leaves as a 

 local application to boils and ulcers. Porter Smith states that 

 the seeds and the entire plant are used as " demulcent, lenitive, 

 diuretic, laxative and discutient remedies. Puerperal diseases, 

 urinary disorders, chronic dysentery and fevers are treated with 

 the seeds." Notes on Chinese Materia Medica by Ho Kai and 

 Crow in Ph. J. for Oct. 22, 1887. 



The leaves contain some mucilaginous substance which 



