186 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



The juice of petals is much used in colouring sugar, 

 confectionary pink (K. JR. K.) 3 and to ' black ' leather-shoes 

 (Masters). 



Parts used : — The flowers, leaves and root. 



Use : — The flowers are considered emollient, and an in- 

 fusion of the petals is given as a demulcent. 



The flowers fried in ghee (clarified butter) are administered 

 by natives for checking excessive menstruation. The leaves are 

 considered emollient and aperient (Murray, p. 63). The buds 

 are employed in the cure of seminal weakness and cystitis ; 

 the root is valuable in coughs (S. Arjun). 



Moodeen Sheriff reports favourably of an infusion of the 

 petals as a demulcent and refrigerant drink in fevers (Ph. Ind). 



In Bombay, the roots are dried and sold in the shops as a 

 substitute for Althoea. In the Concan, the fresh root-juice of the 

 wild flower variety is given, in doses of two tolas with milk, 

 sugar and cumin for gonorrhoea, and the root powdered is given 

 with an equal quantity of lotus-root and the bark of Eriodendron 

 anfractuosum, in the same manner, for menorrhagia, the dose of 

 the three being 6 massas each. (Dymock). 



Dr. Moodeen Sheriff recommended an oil, made by mixing 

 the juice of fresh petals and olive oil in equal portions, and 

 boiling till all water is evaporated, as a stimulating application 

 for the hair. 



170. Thespasia populnea, Cow., h.f.b.l, I. 

 345. Roxb. 



Syn. : — Hibiscus populneus, Roxb. 522. 



Sans. : — Gardhabhanda, Parisa, Suparshvaka. 



Vern. : — Dumbla (Sundribuns) ; (Hindi) Paruspipal Gaj- 

 dand, Paras pipul (H.) ; Poresh, parash, paresh-pipal (B.) ; Poris, 

 portia, pursa Pursha-maram (Tarn.); gangaraya (Tel.); Bendi 

 (Guz.) ; Bhendi, Bhend (Bomb.). (Sinhalese) Suriya, (Tamil) 

 Kavarachu, Puvarachu. 



