430 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Vern. :— Kudaliya (M. & B.) ; Moonoodda-moddoo (Tel.) 

 Jangli or Ran methi (Bombay). 



Habitat : — Everywhere in the plains, throughout India 

 Kumaon and Kashmir. 



Trailing herbs, 2-lJft , stems casspitose, very slender, copious 

 ly branched, clothed with fine spreading hairs. Leaves 3-foliate 

 Stipules lanceolate, persistent; petioles i-iin.; leaflets obovate 

 §--|in., truncate or emarginate, with a few adpressed hairs below 

 Flowers 1-3 together, without a common peduncle in the axils 

 of the leaves. Bracts deciduous. Pedicels i-fin. Calyx pubes- 

 cent, xViin. ; teeth very long, setaceous. Pod -f-^in. long, -§-in. 

 broad, 3-5-jointed distinctly, pubescent ; upper suture straight, 

 lower slightly indented. 



Use : — The fresh leaves are applied to wounds and abscesses 

 that do not heal well (Wight). 



A paste of the bruised leaves with kamala is applied to in- 

 dolent sores and itch. In the mofussil, the fresh juice of the 

 plant is given to children for coughs (S. Arjiinj. In Ceylon, 

 it is used in dysentery (Watt). 



377. Abrus precatorius, Linn., h.f.b.i., ii. 175, 

 Roxb. 544. 



Sans. : — Gunja. 



Vern. :— Rati (H.) ; Kunch (B.) ; gumchi (Guz.) ; Maspat 

 (Nepal) ; Kawet(SantaL) ; LatuwanifAss.) ; Gundumani (Tarn.); 

 Ghurie-ghenza (Tel.;. 



Habitat : — From the Himalayas, throughout India. 



A perennial twiner. Stems numerous, scarcely woody, 

 slender, glabrous, with long internodes. Leaves spreading, 

 pinnate, rachis 2-4in., thickened at base, very slender, chan- 

 nelled, very glabrous. Stipules minute, setaceous. Leaflets 

 20-24 (10-20 pair) or more, opposite, very shortly stalked, 

 quickly deciduous, about fin., oblong, obtuse at both ends, 

 minutely apiculate, glabrous above, slightly hairy beneath, thin; 

 flowers pale violet, rather small, shortly stalked, several together 

 on very short, swollen, knob-like branches, crowded at: ends of 



