260 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS- 



pubescent. Leaves 6-12in. long, imparipinnate, somewhat 

 crowded, spreading. Rachis pubescent. Leaflets 16-25, shortly 

 stalked, l-2in., oval or oblong-lanceolate, very oblique at base, 

 slightly caudate ; obtuse or emarginate, irregularly crenate, 

 smooth above, pubescent beneath, the lower ones smaller and 

 more rotundate. Corymbs in terminal panicles, penduncled, 

 many- flowered ; petiole about x a in. Flowers white, about Jinch, 

 in much-branched, flattened tops ; " in corymbose terminal 

 cymes," says Trimen. Bracts minute. Sepals small, acute, 

 triangular, pubescent. Petals linear, oblong, erect, dotted with 

 glands, glabrous, valvate. Stamens inserted on a fleshy disk. 

 Filaments narrowed at top, ovary glabrous, without agynophore, 

 2-celled, with 1 (rarely 2) ovules in each cell. Style long, 

 stigma large. Berry f-fin., nearly glubular, apiculate, rough 

 with glands, deep purple or black, when ripe, 2-seeded. The 

 characteristic change in colour of the unripe berry from green 

 to red, then purple, then black, when perfectly ripe, is very 

 noteworthy. 



Parts used :— The bark, root and leaves. 



Uses : — The bark and root are used as stimulants by the 

 native physicians. Externally, they are used to cure eruptions 

 and the bites of poisonous animals. The green leaves are 

 described to be eaten raw for the cure of dysentery ; they are 

 also bruised and applied externally to cure eruptions (Roxb), 

 An infusion of the toasted leaves is used to stop vomiting 

 (Ainslie). In the Punjab, the leaves are applied to bruises 

 (Stewart). In Bombay, the leaves are given in decoction with 

 bitters as a febrifuge (Dymock.) The plant is noticed in the 

 Indian Pharmacopoeia as having tonic and stomachic proper- 

 ties. The root is slightly purgative (Watt). 



232. Limonia acidissima, Linn, h.f.b.l, 

 i. 507. 



Syn. : — L. crennlata, Roxb. 364. 



Vern. : — Beli(H.}; Belsion (Chiitia Nagpur) ; Bhenta (Uriya); 



Keiri, Kara (Merwara); Ran limbu, naringi (Bomb,) Kawat, 

 nai-bel (Mar.); Toralaga (Tel.); Nai-bel (Kan). 



