N. 0. MALVACEAE. 181 



Use : — In Ceylon it is valued as a febrifuge (Duthie's 

 Flora Upper Gangetic Plain, Vol. I, p. 89). 



164. H. cannabinus, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 339. 

 Roxb, 528. 



Sans.: — Machika, Phalamla, Rajjuda-Ambashta, Ambalika. 

 Nali ; garmikura. 



Vern. : — San. (H.) ; Mesta-pat (B.) ; Ambadi (Dec.) ; 

 Palungu (Tarn.) ; Ghongu-kuru. (Tel.); Dare kudrum (Santal.) ; 

 kanuriya (Orissa) ; kudrum (Behar) ; Sajjado (Sind). ; Pim- 

 drike gida, holada (Kan.). 



(Porebunder and Guj.) Bhindi Amboi ; (Marathi) Ambadi ; 

 (Hindi) Patsan Am ban. (J. Indraji.) 



Habitat:— Generally cultivated; apparently wild east of 

 the Northern Ghauts. 



An annual or perennial herb. Stem glabrous, prickly. 

 Lower leaves entire, cordate, upper deeply palmately-lobed, lobes 

 narrow serrate ; mid-nerve glandular beneath. Petiole prickly, 

 lower much larger than the blade. Stipules linear, pointed. 

 Peduncles very short, axillary. Bracteoles 7-10, linear, shorter 

 than the Calyx. Sepals bristly, lanceolate, connate below the 

 middle, with a gland at the back of each. Corolla large, spread- 

 ing, yellow with a crimson centre. Capsule globose, pointed 

 bristly. Seeds nearly glabrous. All parts agreeably acid. 



Parts used : — The seeds, leaves and juice. 



Use: — The seeds are used as an external application to 

 pains and bruises, and are said to be aphrodisiac and fatten- 

 ing. 



One tola of the juice of the flowers, with sugar and 

 black pepper is a popular remedy for biliousness with acidity 

 (Dymock). The leaves are purgative. 



165. II. Sahdariffa, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 340. 



Vern. :— Lal-ambadi, Patwa (B. Bomb.^; Mesta, (B); Lal- 

 ambadi (Sind.); Sivappu-kashurnk-kai (Tarn.) ; Erra-gom-kaya 

 (Tel); Polechi (Mai); Arak kudrumi, togat arak. (Santal.); 

 Pulachakin, pundibija (Kan.). 



