586 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



obliquely ovoid or cordate-ovate, with a slight obtuse notch on 

 either side under the apex ; unequally compressed ; slightly 

 convex in some parts, and quite plain in others ; cup fleshy, 

 orange-red, smooth, succulent, sweet, edible when ripe, formed 

 of the thickened disk and accrescent Calyx-base. Pericarp 

 smooth, shining, black, thick ; containing between the outer 

 and inner laminse roundish or oblong cells, full of corrosive 

 resinous juice. This juice is white when the fruit is young, 

 darkening on exposure to air. In the mature fruit, it is brown- 

 ish or perfectly black ; inner lamina hard, rugose, outer smooth, 

 leathery, less hard. Seed pendulous, with a swollen or umbil- 

 licate funicle (Lubbock). 



Testa coriaceous, inner coat somewhat fleshy. Embryo 

 thick, milk-white. Plumule ovate-leaved, veined, conduplicate, 

 very thin. Cotyledons fleshy, thick, white, irregularly plano- 

 convex. Albumen absent. Radicle superior, minute, connate 

 with the apex of the cotyledons, always directed to the hilum. 



Parts used: — The fruit. 



Use : — In Hindoo medicine the ripe fruits are regarded as 

 acrid, heating, stimulant, digestive, nervine and escharotic, and 

 are used in dyspepsia, piles, skin diseases, nervous debility, &c. 



(Dutt). 



Mahomedan writers consider the juice of the pericarp to be 

 hot and dry, useful in all kinds of skin diseases, palsy, epilepsy 

 and other affections of the nervous system. Externally, it is 

 applied to cold swellings, such as piles (Dymock). 



The Hakeems administer it for weakness of memory, epilepsy, 

 etc. They consider it to be injurious to the liver, inflames the 

 blood, and can produce melancholia, insanity, frenzy, etc. 

 (Honnigberger.) 



The Telingee physicians use it as a specific in all kinds of 

 venereal affections (Roxburgh). A brown gum exudes from 

 the bark which the Hindus regard as a valuable medicine in 

 scrofulous, venereal and leprous affections (Ainslie). An oil 

 from the nut acts as a vesicant in rheumatism and sprains 

 (Ainslie). 



