614 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Flowers in sessile clusters. Calyx-lobes ovate, often scarious on 

 the margin, coloured within. Bracts scarious. Petals 0. Stamens 

 5, inserted near top of the calyx. Styles 2. Capsule ^--in. ; 

 beak consisting of two lanceolar portions, acute upward .(mitri- 

 form), separating into two 1-seeded parts, lower portion of the 

 fruit 2-seeded. Seeds dull black, roughly puberulous, the con- 

 certric lineation very obscure (C. B. Clarke). 



Use : — Tt is used as an astringent in abdominal diseases, 

 and is also stated to produce abortion (Dr. Stewart). 



560. T, decandra, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 661. 



Vern. : — G-ada-cani (B.) ; Bhees Khupra (Dec); Vallay- 

 sharunnpy (Tam.) ; Telia ghalijeroo (Tel.) ; Jaija soppu (Kan.). 



Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula. 



Diffuse, prostrate, branched herb, glabrous or papillose. 

 Leaves l-ljin. ; oblong or elliptic; petiole i-J-in. Flowers in 

 nearly sessile clusters. Calyx-lobes ovate, usually obtuse, often 

 scarious on the margins. Bracts scarious. Stamens 10. Petals 

 0. Styles 2. Capsule |in. ; beak a truncate solid cylinder, 

 not at all or very obscurely mitriform, with two included seeds, 

 indehiscent or finally splitting. Seeds 4 ; 2 lower, dull black, 

 puberulous, with numerous faint concentric raised lines. 



Uses : — The root is aperient, and said to be useful in hepati- 

 tis, asthma and suppression of the menses. A decoction of 

 the root-bark is given as an aperient (Ainslie). 



The root, ground up with milk and given internally, is 

 said to be a specific in orchitis. The juice of the leaves drop- 

 ped into the nostrils relieves one-sided headache (Surgeon- 

 Major Thompson, c.i.e., in Watt's Dictionary). 



561. 'Mollugo hirta, Thumb., h.f.b.i., ii., 662. 



Syn. : — Pharnaceum pentagonum, Roxb. 275. 



Vern. \ — Kothruk (Sind.) ; Poprang, gandie bootee (Pb.); 

 Zakhmi-haiyat (Pb. Bazar, according to Stewart' ::: '). 



* Dymock gives Zakhmi-hyat as the Bombay name of Kalanchoe Laciniata, 

 Dc, which see. 



