998 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



minute round glands (C. B. Clarke). Petiole Jin. Racemes 

 l-2in., bracts -§-in. caducous. Calyx fin., tomentose, but with 

 large bare glands. Corolla l^in., tomentose with glabrous 

 glands. Drupe fin., long ovoid or obovoid 1-2-seeded. 



Use : — Used for rheumatism, pains in the loins, and syphilitic 

 diseases. It was known to the Portuguese under the name 

 Eais Madre de Deas. The root was in great request in Goa as 

 an antidote to every poison, and a remedy for every disease in 

 former days. The roots are slightly bitter, astringent, and 

 aromatic (Dymock). It is regarded by the Hindu doctors as a 

 demulcent and alterative. " The leaves and young shoots of 

 this shrub abound with a thick, viscid mucilage, which is 

 imparted readily to cold water, which, when thus impregnated, 

 is employed by the natives in the treatment of gonorrhoea to 

 allay ardour urinae " (Pharm. Ind.). At the present time the 

 root is principally employed as a demulcent for gonorrhoea and 

 catarrh of the bladder (Watt). 



958. Vitex tri folia, Linn. /., h.f.b.i., IV. 583 ; 

 Roxb. 481. 



Sans.:— Sindhuvara ; Sindhuka. 



Vevn.\— Nishinda (B.) ; Pani-ki-sanbhaTu, sambhalus (H.); 

 Nirnochi (Tarn.) ; Vavilli (Tel.) ; Lingoor (Mar.) ; Pani-ki-Sam- 

 bhalu (Dec.) ; Nira-lakki-gida (Kan.). 



Habitat : — Scattered throughtout India, in the tropical and 

 sub-tropical region, from the foot of the Himalaya to Ceylon, 

 nowhere common. 



A shrub or small tree. Shoots hairy or tomentose. Leaves, 

 opposite, 3-often 1-foliate. Leaflets sessile, pleasantly aromatic 

 l-3in., obovate or ovate oblong sub-obtuse entire, glabrate 

 above ; beneath tomentum of matted, scarcely stellate hairs, so 

 close as with difficulty to be scraped off. Petiole lin. Panicles 

 terminal penultimate axillary, closely white tomentose ; l-4in. 

 oblong, often leafy at the base ; bracts minute, peduncles often 

 added. Calyx f fin ; cup-shaped minutely 5-toothed. Corolla 

 tomentose, lavender to blue, l-Jiji., small tubular. Stamens 4, 

 didynamous. Filaments hairy at the base. Drupe -Jin. diain., 

 black. 



