594 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



stimulant destroying the excess of phlegmatic humours, which 

 are supposed to be produced in the body after delivery. 



A plaster made with the roots is said to promote the 

 growth of the hair, and prevent its falling off. The plant is 

 called in Sanskrit Karkataka, from the resemblance of the 

 seeds to the shell of a crab. This plant is the Muricia cochin- 

 chinensis of Loureiro, who says that the berries are used for 

 colouring food, and that the seeds and leaves are aperient and 

 abstergent and useful in hepatic and splenic obstructions, in 

 unhealthy ulcerations, lumbago ; and, externally, in prucidentia 

 uteri-et-ani, fractures, and luxation of the bones (Pharmaco- 

 graphia Indica, Vol. II. p. 77). 



540. M. Cymbalaria, Fenzl. h.f.b.i., ii. 618. 



Syn. : — Luffa tuberosa, Eoxb. 699. 



V em. : — Kadavanchi (Mar.). 



Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula ; Mysore and Concan. 



A monoecious climber, leaves l-2in. broad, reniform- 

 orbicular, 5 angular or slightly 5 lobed, middle lobe not elong- 

 ated, glabrous or slightly pubescent, often punctate on both 

 surfaces, dentate ; petiole i-ljin. Flowers small, males few 

 on one raceme with inconspicuous bracts. Male raceme l-2in., 

 with usually only 2-4 flowers; calyx-lobes laceolate ; petals iin., 

 yellow ; filaments 2, one 2-fid, one 3-fid, so each with one anther- 

 cell ; filaments inserted near the top of the calyx-tube, anthers 

 completely exsert. Female peduncle -f-2in., 1-fiowered, ebracte- 

 ate. Fruit f by scarcely ^in. Seeds i-iin., few, shortly obovoid, 

 smooth, shining. (C. B. Clarke). 



Use : — Dr. Lyon, the Chemical Analyser to the Government 

 of Bombay, informs me that on reference to the records of his 

 office, he finds that the kadavanchi tubers have been three times 

 sent to him, within the last four years, as having been used to 

 procure abortion (Dymock). 



541. Cucumis trigonus, Roxb> h.f.b.i., ii. 619 ; 

 Roxb. 700. 



Vern. : — Bislombi, Bislambhi, Jangli-indrayan (H.) ; Kattut- 

 tumatti (Tarn.) ; Adavi-puch-cha (Tel.). Karit (Bomb.). 



