N. 0. FICOIDE^. 613 



N. 0. FICOIDEiE. 



558. Tvianthema monogyna, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 

 660, 



Syn. :— T. obcordata, Roxh. 385. 



Sans. : — Punarnaavi. 



Vern. : — Sabuni (B.) ; Nasurjanghi (Dec.) ; Sharunnay 

 (Tara.) ; Gheli jeliroo (Tel.) ; Bishkapra (Pb.) ; Narmah (Sind.) ; 

 Khapra (Bomb) ; Swet, Sabuni ; illat sabuni (H.) ; Muchu-goni 

 (Kan.). 



Habitat: — Throughout Tropical India ; low country Ceylon, 

 common. 



A prostrate, somewhat succulent herb. Steins rather angular, 

 glabrous or slightly pubescent, much branched. Leaves oblique- 

 ly opposite, very unequal, the upper one larger f-lin., the lower 

 smaller, i-J-in. obovate, tapering to base, rounded, often apiculate 

 at apex ; petiole Jin. ; connate, very much dilated and membran- 

 ous at base, especially of the smaller leaves, which form a deep 

 triangular axillary bunch, containing the solitary sessile flowers. 

 Calyx-segments ovate, acute. Calyx-tube scarious, thin, close- 

 ly sheathed by the base of the petiole (Trimen). C. B. Clarke 

 says that the Calyx-lobes are obtuse, cuspidate. Stamens 

 10-20. Ovary truncate, style simple. Capsule small, almost 

 concealed in the stipular branch, about 8-seeded ; cap exserted, 

 truncate, carrying away with it 3 seeds. Seeds reniform, black, 

 dull, muriculate (Trimen). 



Use : — The root which is bitter and nauseous, is given in 

 powder in combination with ginger as a cathartic ; when taken 

 fresh it is somewhat sweet (Ainslie). 



559. T. pentandra, Linn., h.k..b.i., it. 660. 



Vernr. — Bisli Kapra ; Narma (Sindh and Pb.) ; Fasarlani 

 (Sind.) 



Habitat: — Punjab, Sindh, and the plains of North-West 

 India. 



Diffuse, prostrate, branched herbs ; papillose or nearly glabr- 

 ous. Leaves opposite, 1-1 Jin., oblong or elliptic ; petiole Jin, 



