664 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



sometimes prickly on the angles, smooth, shining. Leaves 4in 

 a whorl, -J-lfin. ; ovate, cordate at base, tapering to acute apex, 

 scabrous above and on the veins beneath, and especially on the 

 margin, with small, white, recurved prickles, 5-or 7-veined from 

 base, stiff, often convex above, with apex hooked, sometimes 

 pubescent beneath. Petiole about twice as long as leaves, usual- 

 ly deflexed, tapering, stiff and branchlike, deeply channelled 

 above, triangular, with many sharp recurved prickles on the 

 angles. Flowers, 5-merous, minute, on short, glabrous pedicels, 

 cymes lax, trichotomous, glabrous. Anthers globose. Corolla- 

 tube thick, very short, lobes ovate, obtuse. Fruit about |in., 

 very didymous, the carpels almost distinct, smooth, shining, 

 purplish black. The Ceylon plant, says Trimen, has the stem 

 almost destitute of prickles. " A very variable plant. The 

 Khasian specimens have usually 3-nerved leaves, not impressed 

 above ; in Western Peninsula the nerves are 5-7, and deeply 

 impressed." (Hooker). 



Uses: — In Hindoo medicine, it is chiefly used as a coloring 

 agent. It is useful as an astringent in external inflammations, 

 ulcers and skin diseases, &c. Chakradatta recommends Madder, 

 rubbed with honey, as an application to the brown spots of 

 pityriasis versicolor (Dutt). 



The Mahomedans consider the drug to be deobstruent, and 

 prescribe it in paralytic affections, jaundice, obstructions in the 

 urinary passages and amenorrhea, They mention the fruit as 

 useful in hepatic obstruction, and a paste made from the roots 

 with honey, as a good application to freckles and other discolora- 

 tions of the skin. The whole plant is reputed to be alexipharmic 

 (Dymock). 



Ainslie says that an infusion of the root is prescribed by 

 the Hakims to women after delivery, to procure copious flow 

 of lochia. 



Dr. G. Playfair, in a note appended to his translation of the 

 Talif-i-Sharifi (p. 150), states that, if taken to the extent of about 

 3 drachms, several times daily, it powerfully affects the nervous 

 system, inducing temporary delirium, &c, with evident deter- 

 mination to the uterine system (Ph. Ind.). 



