244 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



hurmul (Sindj ; Vilayati-mhendi, vilayati-isbaiid (Dec) ; Hurmal, 

 purmaro, ispand. (Bomb) ; Harmala, (Mar) ; Ispun, Hurmaro ; 

 (Guz) ; spimai-aravandi, virati, shimai-azha-vanai-virai, (Tarn) ; 

 Sima-goronti-vittulu, (Tel) Hurmul or harmal, (Arab) ; Isband, 

 or ispand, (Pers). 



Habitat : — N. W. India, from Sindh, the Punjab, and the 

 Kashmir plain to Delhi and Agra ; the Western Deccan. 



A glabrous bush. Stem 1-3 ft. high, stout, flexuous, 

 dichotomously and corymbosely much branched and densely 

 foliaged. Leaves 2-3in., green, pinuatifidly cut into linear, 

 very narrow acute spreading lobes. Flowers -J-fin. diam., 

 solitary in axils of the branches, sessile or pedicelled. Calyx- 

 tube very narrow, much exceeding the Corolla, persistent. 

 Sepals 4-5. Petals 4-5, subecjual imbricate, elliptic-oblong. 

 Stamens 12-15, inserted at the base of the disk, some antherless ; 

 filaments dilated below ; anthers linear. Ovary globose, deeply 

 2-3-lobed ; styles basal, twisted, 2-3, keeled above, the keels 

 stigmatose ; ovules many in each cell, inserted in the inner 

 angle. Fruit a globose capsule Jin. diam., and less. Seeds 

 angled, testa spongy, rough ; albumen fleshy ; embryo curved; 



Parts used : — The seeds, leaves and root. 



Use : — In Native works on Materia Medica, it is described 

 as an alterative and purifying medicine in atrabilis, and also 

 in diseases supposed to arise from cold humors, such as palsy, 

 lumbago, &c. ; it is also said to stimulate the sexual system 

 both in the male and female, increasing the flow of milk and 

 menses in the latter. (Dymock.) 



In the Punjab, the seeds are considered narcotic and given 

 in fevers and colic. The decoction of the leaves is given for 

 rheumatism, and the powdered root mixed with mustard oil, 

 is applied to the hair to destroy Vermin. Stewart.) 



In Gujrat, it is burnt in the sick-room as an antiseptic and 

 deodorizer when any person surfers from wounds, ulcers, or 

 small-pox. (Ibbetson's Gazeteer of Gujrat: p. 12.) 



The Natives of the Punjab use these seeds against weakness 

 of sight and retention of urine. (Honingberger, Vol : II. p. 284). 



