218 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



properties." (Christy's New Commercial Plants, No. 7, p. 



50. 1884). 



The fruit is employed as a medicine by the Santals, in 

 diarrhoea and dysentery. The root pounded is also prescribed 

 for the same diseases, and powdered in water is applied 

 externally to hasten suppuration, and as a dressing for 

 wounds. The paste dries and forms a hard coating, thus 

 effectually excluding air from the raw surface (Revd. A. 

 Campbell.) 



193. Triumfetta rliomboidea, Jaequin, h.f.b.i., 

 i. 395. Roxb., 390 and 391. 



Sansk : — Jhinjharita (J. Indraji). 



Vern. :— Cbitki, Chiriyari (H.) ; Bun-okra (B."l ; Aodaiotti 

 (Tarn.) Nichardi (Bomb.). Jhinjudi ; Nichardi (Marathi). 



Habitat : — Throughout tropical and sub-tropical India, 

 and Ceylon, a very common weed. It grows wild and freely on 

 Matheran Hill.— K. R. Kirtikar. 



An annual or perennial herb, l|-3 ft., slightly branched ; 

 branches pubescent, with simple hairs. Leaves 1-2 \ in., vari- 

 able, the lower more or less deeply 3-fid., the upper ovate- 

 lanceolate, all coarsely and irregulary serrate, simply hairy on 

 both sides ; often tomentose and white beneath. Petiole of 

 lower leaves long, of upper leaves very short. Flowers small, 

 J- in. diam., yellow, on short pedicels, clusters crowded into a 

 spicate inflorescence at end of branches, buds oblong, slightly 

 stellate-pubescent ; petals equalling sepals. Stamens 8-15. 

 Fruit very small, globose, iin., finely tomentose, spines less 

 than |in., glabrous, hooked, cells 3-4. 



Parts used : —The fruit, flowers and leaves. 



Uses : — The mucilaginous and astringent properties of the 

 leaves and fruits of certain Triumfettas, called Garapixo de 

 Galcada in Brazil, which grow everywhere in that country, 

 especially on the roadside, and in the vicinity of dwellings, 

 render them serviceable in injections for inveterate gonorrhoea. 



