424 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



below, orbicular or oblong. Heads of flowers short, dense, 

 oblong-cylindrical, always simple, 1-2, rarely 3-in. : long, under 

 lin. thick ; bracts sub-persistent, distinctly ciliated. Pedicels 

 densely crinate, not longer than Calyx. Calyx i-lin. ; lower teeth 

 setaceous, densely plumose. Corolla scarcely exserted. Joints 

 1-2, brown polished, finely pubescent. 



Use : — This plant is an ingredient of the Dashamula Kddhd 

 (Decoction), and is thus much used in Native medicine. It is 

 considered alterative, tonic, and anti-catarrhal, but is seldom 

 used alone (Dutt). 



According to Sushruta, it was given with milk to women in 

 the seventh month of their pregnancy to produce abortion. 



The properties attributed to it are probably entirely 

 fanciful (Pharm. Ind.) 



370. Alysiearpus longifolius,W. & A., h.f.b.l, 



ii. 159. 



Habitat : — Plains, scattered throughout India proper. 



Stems stout, ascending, sub-glabrous, reaching 4-5 ft. Leaf- 

 lets oblong and lanceolate, 3-6 in. long, the flowers adpressed 

 to the finely hairy rachis ; pedicels T \ in. Calyx \ in. ; teeth 

 lanceolate, 4-5 times the length of the funnel-shaped plicate 

 tube. Pod 4-6-jointed, usually exserted, T ^ in. broad, turgid 

 moniliform, marked with only a few faint raised vines. 



Use : — The roots are sweet like liquorice and are called 

 liquorice by the Indian peasants, and used as a substitute for 

 the same. 



371. Arachis hypogcea, Linn, h.f.b.l, ii. 161, 

 Roxb. 252. 



Vern. :— Mung-phali ; vilayeti-mung (H). ; Mat-kalai ; chini- 

 badam ; bilati-mung (B.); Bbui-mung; (Sind.); Bhui-shing 

 (Bom. ); Bhui-mug ; bhui-chane (Mar.) ; Chini-mung ; bhui-chana 

 (Guz.) ; Ver-kadalai ; nila-kadalai ; kadalaikai ; manilla-kottai 

 (Tarn,) ; Veru-sanagalu ; manilla-ginjalu ; nila-sanagalu (Tel.) ; 

 Bhuimug. (Kan). 



Habitat : — Cultivated in many parts of India. 



