N. 0. GERANIAOE^. 237 



A pilose stemless herb. Root-stock creepy scaly. Leaves 

 all radical, 3-foliate ; leaflets broadly obcordate, often purple 

 beneath, i-fin., petioles 3-6in., stipules large broad mem- 

 branous. Scape axillary, slender, 2-bracteate, about the middle. 

 .Flowers yellow, solitary, f-f in., diam. Sepals oblong. Petals 

 obovate white or pale-rose, veined with purple, erose, cohering 

 above the claw. Capsule erect, pentagonal. Cells 2-3-seeded. 

 Flowers throughout the year. Leaves have an acid taste. Very 

 common in cultivated ground. 



Uses : —Although at one time this found a place in the Lon- 

 don Pharmacopoeia, yet in India no account appears to exist of 

 any supposed medicinal virtues inherent in this species. In Eu- 

 rope it was introduced into the Pharmacopoeia as a refrigerant 

 in fever, and as an anti-scorbutic in scurvy, but has now fallen 

 into disuse. (Watt.' 



The leaves contain a large quantity of binoxalate of potash, 

 when the juice is evaporated, this salt is deposited in crystals, 

 and so prepared was formerly sold as " salt of lemons " or 

 "salts of sorrel," for removing iron stains ; but since the manu- 

 facture of oxalic acid from other sources, it is seldom used. 



A decoction of the leaves in whey is used in the Hebrides 

 for putrid fevers ; infused in water they form an agreeable 

 cooling drink in all febrile disorders, and a conserve made of 

 the leaves beaten up with sugar is recommended for the same 

 purpose. 



The wood sorrel approaches the nearest of all our native 

 plants to the Sensitive plant, not only closing its petals and 

 folding its bright green leaves at sunset and with every change 

 of atmosphere but even if the stem be rudely or repeatedly 

 struck. (Sowerby's English Botany). 



215. Biophytiim sensitivum, B.C. h.f.b.i., 

 t. 436. 



Sans : — Jhalla-pushpa. 



Feni:— Lahan Amulki, Ladjri (Mar.); Zarer (Guj and Pore- 

 bunder) ; Lak-Chana, Lajaln, zarair ; (Hind) ; Gas-nidi kumba 

 (Sinhalese). 



