328 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Malakakani, Malkan kanino Velo ; (Marathi) Pengi, Malkangoni, 

 Kangooi; (Hindi) Malkangni, Malkangi. 



(Sinhalese) Duhudu. 



A large, climbing shrub. Bark usually yellow, corky, some- 

 times fibrous, spirally twisted and smooth. Wood porous, 

 soft, very variable, according to locality and climate. 



Young shoots marked with lenticels (Kanjilal). Leaves 

 alternate, very variable in size and shape ; generally 2-4 by 1J- 

 3in., obovate, orbicular, elliptic or oblong lanceolate, short- 

 acuminate, more or less coriaceous, glabrous ; base acute, lateral 

 nerves 4-6 pair, parallel to margins. Petiole J-|in. long. 

 Flowers Jin., pale or yellowish green in terminal pedulous pyra- 

 midal panicles, 2-4in. long. Pedicels slender, puberulous. 

 Calyx-lobes shallow, unequal, rounded toothed. Petals oblong, 

 broad-based, acute. Disk inconspicuous. Anthers large, about 

 the size of the petals Ovary free, stigma simple. Capsule gin. 

 broadly ovoid or roundish, blunt, transparently wrinkled, bright 

 yellow ; valves septifragai above, leaving the seeds exposed. 

 Seed |in., cinnamon-brown, striate, completely enveloped in 

 scarlet fleshy aril. 



Tropical and sub-tropical Himalaya. Throughout India, 

 Burma, Ceylon. » 



Parts used — The seeds, leaves and oil. 



Use : — The seeds are thought by the natives to be hot and 

 dry, aphrodisiac and stimulant, useful both as an external and 

 internal remedy in rheumatism, gout, paralysis, leprosy, and 

 other disorders which are supposed to be caused by cold 

 humours. The crushed seeds, combined with aromatics, are said 

 to be very efficient in removing local pains of a rheumatic or 

 malarious nature. 



In the Concan, 4 tolas of the leaf-juice are given as an 

 antidote in overdoses of opium, and the seeds, made into a 

 paste, with cow's urine, are applied to cure scabies (Dymock). 



In Ajtnere, the seeds are considered sudorific (Irvine). 



By a rude form of distillation, the Natives obtain from 

 them a black empyreumatic oil, which, under the name of 

 " Oleum nigrum" was brought forward by the late Dr. Herklots 



