1092 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Vern. :— Chab (H.) ; Chai, choi (B.) ; Kankala (Bomb.). 



Habitat : — Cultivated in various parts of India. 



A stout, climbing herb, quite glabrous. Stem rooting. 

 Branches flexuous, terete, hard, finely striate when dry, pale. 

 Leaves 5-7 by 2J-3|in., rather coriaceous, pale when dry, 

 shining above, oblong, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, 3-5- 

 nerved at the very obliquely cordate, auricled base, penni-nerved 

 above it ; 3-6 pair nerves above the basal nerves. Nervules 

 arching. Petiole J-Jin. Fruiting spikes stoutly peduncled, 

 sub-erect, conico-cylindric, l-2in. long,-|in. diam., broadest at 

 the base, obtuse, forming a fleshy cone of innumerable fruits, 

 Jin. diam. The alternate nerves of the main portion of the 

 leaf all starting from the midrib are very characteristic of the 

 species (J. D. Hooker). 



Uses : — It partakes of the stimulant and carminative proper- 

 ties of Black and Long Pepper, but does not appear to possess 

 any special claim to notice. Its use in hsemorrhoidal affections 

 is noticed in the " Taleef Shereef," p. 66. No. 340. (Ph. Ind.) 



1080. P. sylvaticum, Roxb., h.f.b.l, v. 84 ; 

 Roxb., 52. 



Vern. : — Pahari pipal (B.). 



Habitat : —Upper and Lower Assam ; jheels of Bengal. 



A low, creeping herb, glabrous. Stem flaccid, angular, suc- 

 culent, several feet long, contracting much in drying. 

 Branches short, erect or ascending, flexuous. Leaves rarely 

 puberulous on the nerves beneath, lower 3 by 2J-3in., nerves 

 slender ; upper as long but narrower ; membranous, long- 

 petioled, broadly ovate or ovate-cordate, acuminate, 5-7- 

 nerved from the base or the linear pair, higher, inserted. Upper 

 leaves elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, shorter-petioled. Petioles 

 of lower leaves 2-4in. Spikes shortly peduncled. Male spikes 

 slender, 2-3in., clothed with peltate bracts. Stamens generally 

 4 (Roxburgh finds 2 ). Anthers reniform ; cells confluent, 

 dehiscing over the crown ; fruiting females always erect, 

 f-1 Jin. Fruit free, i-fin. diam. 



