N. O. GERANIACE2E. 235 



Uses : — This herb, though now almost entirely neglected, was 

 formerly much used in European medicine. It has a disagree- 

 able, bitterish, astringent taste, and imparts its virtues to boiling 

 water. It was formerly employed internally in intermittent 

 fever, consumption, nephritic complaints, jaundice, and as a 

 gargle in affections of the throat, and externally as a resolvent 

 to swollen breasts and other tumours. (U. S. Dispensatory.) 



It possesses slightly astringent qualities, and, according 

 to the doctrine of signatures, Sir John Hill informs us that its 

 power to arrest bleeding is indicated by the beautiful red hue 

 assumed by the fading leaves. In Wales it is still administered 

 in medicine, and our never-failing friend Gerarde extols it as 

 an excellent " Stauncher of blood." (Sowerby's English Botany). 



212. G. ocellatum., Camb. h.f.b.i., i. 433. 



Vern :-Bhand(H.) 



Habitat:— Hills of the Punjab, temperate and Sub-tropical 

 Himalaya, from Kashmir and the salt range to E. Nipal ; Behar, 

 on the top of Parusnatha. 



A small straggling annual, hoary-pubescent or hairy and 

 glandular, excessively-branched, prostrate, slender shrub. Leaves 

 orbicular i-2in. diam., rose-coloured, with a dark purple eye. 

 Sepals rigid after flowering, wrinkled from the pressure against 

 the carpels. Petals large broadly obcorclate, much larger than 

 the acuminate sepals. Fruit erect, f-in., long. Carpels corru- 

 gated, small, separating from the axis and beak, which latter 

 eventually coils up elastically. Seeds smooth, shining, pale. 



Use : — The plant possesses diuretic and astringent properties. 

 (Watt.) 



213. Oxalis corniculata, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 436. 



Roxb. 389. 



Sans : — Amlalonika ; Changeri. 



Vern:— Chalmori ; Amrul-sak ; Chuka-tripati (B. and H.) ; 

 Surchi ; Khatta mitha (Pb.); Paliakiri ; Puli— yarai (Tarn); Palla- 

 chinta (Tel) ; Nalkarda Ambuti ; Bhui-sarpati (Bomb.) ; Taudi 



