N. 0. STERCULIACEiE. 209 



obovate. Stamens 20, connate at the base, 15 fertile in groups 

 of 5 each, alternating with 5 staminodes, which are nearly as 

 long as the petals. Anthers 2-cellecl, extrorse ; style entire, 

 twisted ; Stigmas 5. Capsule subglobose, bristly, half the length 

 of the persistent Calyx, 5-valved, dividing longitudinally. Seeds 

 8-12, 2-serrate in each cell ; not winged. Cotyledons plaited, 

 2-partite. 



Parts used : — The fruit and root. 



Uses : — The fruit is officinal on account of its mucilaginous 

 properties. The root is employed as a medicine by the Santals 

 (Revd. A. Campbell). 



185. Eriolcena quinqueloeularis, Wight. 



H.F.B., i. 371. 



Vern : — Bhawat (Chutia Nagpur). 



Habitat : — Behar ; Western Peninsula, chiefly on the west 

 side, from Bombay southwards ; Chutia Nagpur ; Nilghiri Mts. 

 Belgaum Ghats (S. Mahratta country), Coimbatore. 



A tree, herbaceous portions stellate hairy. Leaves round- 

 ish, toothed, apex acute, shortly acuminate, base cordate, 2J-3 

 in., each way, palmately-7-nerved, thinly stellately hairy or 

 glabrascent above, whitish and softly pubescent beneath. 

 Petioles 2in. Bracteoles a little distant from the flower, minute, 

 caducous, entire or lobed. Cymes at end of branches ; peduncles 

 longer than the leaves ; stellate-hairy. Pedicels shorter than 

 the flower, jointed above the middle. Flower-buds ovate, oblong. 

 Sepals fin. Petals equalling sepals ; claw broad, pubescent. 

 Column as long as the petals. Stigma revolute, 5-10-lobed. 

 Style hairy. Capsule l^in., oblong, pointed, 5-10-valved ; 

 valves not tubercled, usually villous at the angles. Seeds 

 numerous. Flowers in July and August. 



Use : -Poultice of root heals wounds (J. J. Wood's Plants 

 of Chutia Nagpur, p. 85). 



27 



