606 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



when ripe. Seeds horizontal, closely packed, oval, compressed 

 in pulp. Flowers all the year, yellow (Trimen). 



Uses : — The seeds in decoction are sudorific. The root, 

 similarly prepared, is useful in flatulence, and, when masticated, 

 relieves toothache (Atkinson). The tender shoots and bitter 

 leaves are used as a gentle aperient and recommended in ver- 

 tigo and biliousness (Dr. Peters, in Watt's Dictionary). 



551. Zehneria Hookeriana, Arn., h.f,b.i., ii. 624. 



Vern. : — Ban-kundri (Chutia Nagpur). 



Habitat : — North Bengal ; common in Sikkim, Assam, Khasia, 

 and Cachar. Deccan Peninsula and Ceylon, common ; appa- 

 rently always in the lower hills. 



A climbing herb, with simple tendrils. Stem weak, nearly 

 glabrous. Leaves cordate, acute, simple or angular, or 3-5-lobed 

 half-way down, generally asperous above, and hairy beneath. 

 Petiole larger than the auricles. Ovary glabrous, even before 

 the expansion of the flower. Fruit 3-8in. diam. when dry, 

 reticulate, rugose, globose. Seeds much flattened, oblong, 

 margined, smooth or slightly tuberculate on the faces. 



Use : — Root used with milk in fever and for diarrhoea (J. J. 

 Wood's Plants of Chutia Nagpur, p. 106). 



552. Z. umbellata, Thwaites, h.f.b.i., ii., 625. 



Syn. : — Momordica umbellata, Roxb. 697. 



Vern. : — Anant-mul, Tarali (H.) ; Kudari (B.) ; Gometta 

 or Gometti (Bomb.); Tid-danda (Tel.) ; At (Santal) ; Gulkukru, 

 Gulale-kukrigularki (Kullu) ; Bankakra (ChambaJ (Pb.). 



Habitat:— Very common throughout India. This plant I 

 found growing wild in my Ratnagiri garden, Outram House, 

 1898 to 1904 (K. R. K.). 



Uses : — In the Concan, the juice of the root with cumin and 

 sugar is given in cold milk as a remedy for spermatorrhoea, 

 and the juice of the leaves is applied to parts which have be- 

 come inflamed from the application of the marking-nut juice. 

 As a Paustik, or restorative and fattening medicine, roasted 

 onions, Gometta root, cumin, sugar and ghi are given, or Go- 

 metta only with milk and sugar (Dymock), 



