N. 0. GERANIACEJl. 241 



ounces ; water, ten fluid ounces ; mix and heat all the ingre- 

 dients on a slow fire till the sugar is dissolved and the liquid 

 assumes the consistence of a thick syrup. (Moodeen Sheriff.) 



218. Impatiens Balsamina, Linn, h.f.b.i., 

 i. 453. 



Vern : — Gul-mendi (H) ; Dupati (B) ; Haragaura (Uriya) ; 

 Mujethi (N. W. P.); Bantil, trual, halu ; tatura ; pallu ; tilphar ; 

 juk (Pb.) ; Teradd (Bomb.)- (Porebunder) Gulmendi ; (Guj) 



Pan tambol ; (Sinhalese) Kudalu-kola. 



Habitat :— Found throughout India. Ceylon 2-4000ft. 

 common. 



An annual erect herb l-3ft. ; Stem glabrous or pubescent, 

 slightly branched, green, pithy, succulent. Leaves alternate, 

 obscurely petioled, l|-5in. narrowly lanceolate or linear, 

 tapering at both ends, especially at base, coarsely spinous- 

 serrate, the lowest serratures often filiform and glandular, 

 glabrous. Flowers bright pink, rather over lin. diam. ; on 

 slender pubescent peduncle much shorter than leaf, 1-3 from 

 axils of upper leaf. Sepals very small, linear ; tip keeled, 

 mucronate, hairy ; spur 1 in. or more, slender, curved strongly 

 pubescent ; standard small, roundish, retuse ; wings very much 

 longer, lower lobe very large, bifid, rounded, upper lobe much 

 smaller, obtuse, retuse. Capsule fin., pointed, tomentose. Seeds 

 globose, tubercled. It is a rainy-season plant. 



Uses : — " It is not known whether any of the Indian 

 Species of Impatiens have attributed to them medicinal pro- 

 perties ; I. Noli-me-tangere (a British Species) has an acrid 

 burning taste, and when taken internally, acts as an emetic, 

 cathartic and diuretic. It is considered too dangerous, how- 

 ever, to be of much use. The United States Dispensatory, after 

 having previously discussed the properties of I. fulva, I. pallida, 

 and I. Noli-me-tangere, states that I. Balsamina resembles the 

 other species in its effects. Baillon says of I. Noli-me-tangere 

 that it was formerly valued as a diuretic and anti-haemorrhoi- 

 dal. It was topically used for pains in the joints and was said 

 31 



