n. o. artstolochiaoe.t;. 1085 



pedicels slender, jointed about the middle or nnjointed. 

 Flowers sometimes 2-nate and connate, valves large, orbicular, 

 2-lobed at each end, very membranous and reticulate without a 

 marginal nerve. Fruit Jin. diam., white or pink ; valves hyaline. 



Uses :— It has obtained the name of Sorrel in India, and is 

 considered by the natives as cooling and aperient, and, to a 

 certain extent, diuretic (Ainslie). The juice is said to allay 

 the pain of toothache, and by its astringent properties to 

 check nausea, promote the appetite and allay morbid craving 

 for unwholesome substances. It is also considered very cooling 

 and of use in heat of stomach, and externally as an epithem 

 to allay pain, especially that caused by the bites or stings of 

 reptiles and insects. The seeds are said to have, similar proper- 

 ties, and are prescribed roasted in dysentery, and as an antidote 

 to scorpion stings. The root is also medicinal (Dymock). 



N. 0. ARISTOLOCHIACE^]. 



1074. Bragantta Wallichii, Br., h.f.b.i., v. 73. 

 Vern. :— Alpam (Mai.). 



Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula ; in the western forests, from 

 the Southern Concan southwards. 



An erect slender shrub, 6-10ff. Bark smooth, yellowish. 

 Twigs swollen above the nodes. Young parts finely pubescent. 

 Branches angled. Leaves distichous, 5-7in., linear-lanceolate, 

 acute at base, attenuate, very acute, entire, glabrous above, 

 minutely pubescent and paler beneath, 3-nerved at base, veins, 

 prominent beneath. Petiole very short, stout. Flowers purple 

 or greenish on rather long pubescent pedicels, in shortly stalked, 

 irregularly umbellate cymes. Bracts small, linear. Perianth 

 segments over Jin., ovate, pubescent, concave. Capsule 3-4in., 

 obtuse, 4-seeded. Seeds acute at both ends, deeply rugose. 

 Leaves slightly aromatic when bruised (Trimen). 



Uses : —The juice of the leaves, like that of many plants of 

 this Natural Order, is valued as an antidote in venomous snake 

 bites, especially in that of the Cobra. Fra Bartolomeo (Voyage, 



