540 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



durable. Stem 6-10ft., at times 10-20ft Leaves deciduous, 

 exstipulate, alternate, crowded at the extremities of branches, 

 crenulate, pubescent, broad, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 3-8in. 

 long, 2-3in. broad ; base often unequal, the lower margin of 

 the leaf tapering as it approaches the petiole and finally merges 

 into the upper margin of the petiole, leaving the petiole slightly- 

 grooved at the ventral aspect. Apex obtuse, retuse, usually, 

 sometimes acuminate, especially in the larger leaves ; margin 

 entire ; main lateral nerves arcuate, prominent, 5-8, often reddish. 

 Petiole roundish, longer than -§- length of the leaf. The tree 

 sheds its leaves from January to March. Flowers small ; male 

 and hermaphrodite on solitary, simple spikes, which are some- 

 times erect, sometimes bent, sometimes drooping ; 3-6in. long, 

 arising from the axils of fresh leaves, just before or about the 

 same times of the year, as tender leaves shoot out. Roxburgh and 

 Brandis condemn the flowers as of a dirty-grey or greenish 

 colour ; but the crimson markings of the Calyx and the soft down, 

 as also the bright yellow anthers, are by no means unattractive, 

 though the odour is offensive. Male flowers usually on the 

 upper part of the spike, sessile. Hermaphrodite flowers chiefly 

 confined to the lower part of the spike on short pedicels. Bracts 

 linear, brown, very early caducous. Calyx deciduous. Corolla 

 absent. Stamens 10. Filaments, 5 short, 5 long, arranged 

 alternately, inserted below the Calyx-segments ; the larger 

 ones twice the length of the Calyx. In the hermaphrodite 

 flowers there is an epigynous disk, brownish, densely hairy. 

 Style slender, filiform, projecting slightly beyond the filaments. 

 Stigma simple, a mere depression at the apex. Ovary tomentose, 

 1-celled, ovule pendulous from the apex of the cavity. Fruit lin. 

 long, ovoid-ellipsoid or globose, grey-velvety. Nut thick-walled 

 and hard. 



Uses : — Sanskrit writers describe beleric myrobalans as as- 

 tringent and laxative, and useful in cough, hoarseness, eye- 

 diseases, &c. As a constituent of triphald, or the three myro- 

 balans, they are used in almost all diseases. The kernel of 

 the fruits is said to be narcotic and astringent, and used as an 

 external application to inflammed parts (Dutt). 



