220 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



tapat, kashta, bhungi or banpat (B.) ; Bun-pat (Sind) ; Ban-phal 

 (N.-W. P. and Pb.) ; Peratti-kirai (Tarn.) ; Parinta (Tel.)Tankla, 

 Chunch; Mothi Chunch (Bombay.) 



Habitat : — Indigenous in many parts of India. Low 

 country weed in Ceylon. 



An annual herb, more or less covered with stellate pube- 

 scence. Leaves 2-4 by ]-2 in., nearly glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, 

 3-5-nerved, serrate, the two lower serratures prolonged into a 

 long sharp point ; petiole 1-2 in., pilose. Stipules shorter 

 than the petioles. Peduncles 1-3-flowered ; shorter than the 

 petiole. Sepals small, shortly-pointed. Petals yellow, spathulate, 

 longer than the sepals. Fruit a capsule 2 in. long,cylindric, 

 glabrous, 10-ribbed, " 10-12-times longer than broad." (Arnold). 

 Beak entire. Valves with transverse partitions between the 

 seeds, beak long, erect. Cultivated as a potherb, or for its fibre 

 (Jute). The very soft pithy wood is used for county-made 

 sulphur-tipped matches. 



Parts used: — The leaves, seeds. 



Uses : — The leaves and tender shoots are eaten, and in the 

 dried state, known as nalita ; they are used in infusion by the 

 natives as a domestic medicine, being tonic and slightly feb- 

 rifuge, and hence used as a fever drink (Watt.) According 

 to Ainslie, the Hindoos reduce the plant to ashes and mix it 

 with honey for administration in obstructions of the abdominal 

 viscera. 



Twining speaks favorably of an infusion of the leaves as 

 a useful fever drink. 



Mr. Atkinson says : — The leaves are emollient, and used 

 in infusion as refrigerant in fevers and special diseases. The 

 dried plant roasted and powdered, is used in visceral obstruc- 

 tions. 



Dr. Kanay Lall Dey says : — The dried leaves are sold 

 in the market. A cold infusion is used as a bitter tonic, 

 and is devoid of any stimulating property. It can be safely 

 given to patients recovering from acute dysentery to restore 

 the appetite, and improve the strength. Six grains of the 

 powder, combined with an equal quantity of curcuma longa, 



