350 



INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



repand-Jentate, more or less pubescent on both sides, especially 

 beneath. Flowers white, bi-sexual, on short pubescent pedicels. 

 Cyme corymbose, shortly pedunculate, dichotomous, lax, spread- 

 ing, axillary, shorter or longer than petiole. Calyx very 

 shallow, segments usually 4 (rarely 5) ; hooked and slightly 

 coherent at top, pubescent outside, soon falling. Berry \ in, 

 depressed, globose, cream-coloured, 2-4-seeded. Seed serni- 

 globose, smooth. 



Use : — Sometimes used as a substitute for, or adulterant of, 

 V. setosa. 



This plant is used as a domestic medicine, because of its 

 astringency fDiMociO. 



305. Leea maerophylla, Roxb. h.f.b.l, i. 664, 

 Roxb. 291. 



Sans. : — Samoodraka. 



Vern. — Dhol-shumoodra (B.) ; Dinda (Bomb.) ; Samudraca 

 (H.) ; Hatkan ( Santal) ; Dinda (Mar.). 



Habitat :— Throughout the hotter parts of India, from the 

 tropical Himalaya, as far west as Kumaon, to Bengal, Assam, 

 and the Western Peninsula. 



Stems erect, flexuose. Leaves simple, 9in., 2-fid, broadly 

 ovate, sub-cordate at base, coarsely serrate or dentate or sub- 

 lobed, repand, glabrous and dark green above, nearly white 

 beneath, and pubescent, with minute-branching hairs. Cymes 

 puberulous, 1-ft. or more, freely-branching. Flowers white, 

 small. Fruit the size of a small cherry, smooth, black, 

 succulent. 



Part used : — The root. 



Uses : — The tuberous root is employed in the cure of gui- 

 nea-worm, and when pounded is applied to obstinate sores to pro- 

 mote cicatrization. According to Roxburgh, the root is astrin- 

 gent and a reputed remedy for ringworm (Dymock). 



The root is said to yield colour for dyeing. 



