956 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



sharp yellow spine about lin. long in the axil, tapering at 

 both ends, sparsely hispid on both sides, spinous ciliate (Trimen). 

 Flowers, bright purple-blue, occasionally white ; 8 (in 4 pair\ 

 at each node. Bracts like the leaves, but smaller ; bractlets 

 linear, hyaline below, bristly hairy on back. Sepals 4, shorter 

 than bractlets, equal, narrow, but one much broader than the 

 rest ; hyaline with long hair outside. Corolla glabrous, lobes 

 oblong, truncate. Anther oblong, subequal. Capsule ^in., 

 shorter than the sepals, linear-oblong, 4-8-seeded. 



Uses : — In Hindu medicine, the leaves are described as 

 cooling and useful in jaundice and anasarca. The root is also 

 considered cooling, bitter and tonic, and is used in rheumatism, 

 urinary affections and anasarca. The ashes also used as diuretic 

 in dropsy (Dutt). The Mahomedan physicians consider the seeds 

 as aphrodisiac (Dymock.) 



Dr. Kirkpatrick (Cat. of Mysore Drugs, No u 451) states that 

 he frequently employed it in dropsical cases, and that it un- 

 doubtedly possesses considerable power as a diuretic. Dr. 

 Gibson also bears testimony to its powers as a diuretic ; and it 

 is favourably reported on by Dr. M. Ross and Native Surgeon 

 Iyaswamy (Ph. Ind.). 



The seeds are given for gonorrhoea, and with milk and sugar 

 in spermatorrhoea. 



When placed in the mouth they immediately become coated 

 with a large quantity of extremely tenacious mucilage, which 

 adheres to the tongue and palate and is of rather agreeable 

 flavour. The seeds are one of Panehavija, or ''five seeds/' the 

 others being those of Celastrus, Fenugreek, Ajwan, and Cumin. 

 There are, however, several other sets of five seeds. 



The seeds are glutinous, besides being mucilaginous. They contain 4*92 

 per cent, of nitrogen, which is equivalent to 31' 14 per cent, of albuminoids, 

 traces of an alkaloid, and 23 per cent, of a yellow fixed oil. The mucilage is 

 not affected by ferric chloride, plumbic acetate, or by two volumes of alcohol. 

 (Pharmacogr. Ind., Ill 39-40.) 



914. Buellia prostrata; hawk, h.f.b.l, iv. 411 ; 

 Roxb. 473. 



Vern. :— Upu-dali (Mai.). 



Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula, extending north to Behar, 



