1086 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



p. 416) quotes a Malabar proverb, to the effect " as soon as 

 Alpam enters the. body, poison leaves it." (Ph. Ind.) This is 

 regarded as one of the most powerful antidotes to poison known 

 on the West Coast. The whole plant mixed with oil and reduced 

 to an ointment is said to be very efficacious in psora or inveterate 

 ulcers (Drury). 



1075. B. tomentosa, Blume., h.f.b.l, v. 73. 



Habitat : — Silhet. 



A low, herbaceous plant. Stem creeping below, and rooting, 

 then ascending, 6-1 2in., simple angular, geniculate, tomentose. 

 Leaves densely tomentose beneath 4-6 by 2J-4in., 1-3, oblong 

 or ovate-cordate smooth, opaque above, 6-9-nerved at the base 

 and penni-nerved beyond ; the first pair of basal nerves not 

 reaching the middle of the leaf. Flowers in simple spikes, 

 J-fin. diam. ; bracts oblong persistent. Perianth-lobes rounded- 

 cordate, acute. Stamens 6. Capsule 2in. long, straight ; Seeds 

 Jin. long, 3-gonous, rugose. 



Use:— It possesses intense bitterness, and, according to 

 Horsfield, is employed by the Javanese as an emmenagogue 

 (Ph. Ind.). 



1076. Aristolochia bracteata, Retz., h.f.b.l, v. 

 75 ; Roxb. 400. 



Sans :— Dhumrapatra. 



Vern. : — Kiraamar gandan or gandati (Hind, and Dec.) ; 

 Addu-tina-pally (Tam.); Gadidegada-para-aku (Tel.) ; Gandhati, 

 kidamari (Bom.); Kadapara (Tel.).; Atutinappala (Mai.) ; Paniri 



(Uriya). 



Habitat: — Deccan Peninsula, northward to Bundelkund, 

 and Scinde. 



Perennial herbs, quite glabrous. Roots slender. Stem or 

 branches slender, 12-18in., angled, striate. Leaves lj-3in. long 

 and bruad, widely and shallowly cordate at base or reniform, 

 tip obtuse or subacute, margins flat or waved, glaucous beneath. 

 Petiole 1-1 Jin. Peduncle short ; bracts usually orbicular, 

 variable in position, sometimes basal. Flowers solitary. 



