744 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



A shrub or small tree, semi-scan dent, by means of its numer- 

 ous horizontal branch lets. Bark grey, with horizontal cracks 

 and numerous leaticels ; young parts glabrous. Leaves^ 2-4in., 

 oval or broadly oval, acute or rounded at base, somewhat 

 acuminate, subacute or obtuse, entire, rather undulate, 

 thin, glabrous, pale and often reddish beneath, veins purple, 

 the lateral ones conspicuous. Petiole i-f in. ; channelled above, 

 papillose flowers 5 — merous, small, pale yellowish green, on 

 sharp divaricate pedicels, in small axillary and terminal racemes 

 or panicles, shorter than the leaves. Bracts minute. Calyx 

 puberulous, segments lanceolate, acute. Corolla cut nearly to 

 the base, lobes 5-recurved, puberulous on both sides. Berry 

 about -gin., nearly globose, apiculate, red, pulp scanty. 



Kanjilal, says " Flowers dioecious ; seed usually solitary, glob- 

 ose, with a hollowed base." 



Uses : — The fruit is said to adulterate black pepper. It is 

 given as an anthelmintic, and internally for piles. 



The young leaves, in combination with ginger, are used as 

 gargle in cases of sore-throat ; that the dried bark of the root 

 is a reputed remedy for toothache, and that the berries, mixed 

 with butter, are used as an ointment, which is applied to the 

 forehead as a specific for pleuritis (Treasury of Botany). 



Sometimes used as an antispasmodic and carminative (Sur- 

 geon-Major McCanna, in Watt's Dictionary). 



719. Ardisia colorata, Roxb., h.f.b.i,, hi. 520, 

 Roxb. 195. 



Habitat : — A shrub, frequent in Aasam, Cachar to Mallaca, 



A small, evergreen tree, attaining 25ft. Branches round, be- 

 coming flattened, only close under the panicle. Branchlets and 

 underside of leaves covered with often shining scales. Leaves 

 lanceolate-oblong, acute at both ends, 9 by 2 Jin., parallel-sided, 

 glabrous, coriaceous ; base cuneate, petiole f-in., primary nerves 

 nearly at right angles to the midrib. Panicles glabrous or 

 obscurely rusty, 6-1 2in., divided 2 or 3 times, branches flat- 



