1096 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



increases the amount of essential oil in the leaf, but also increases the 

 proportion of phenols in the essential oil. The nature of the terpene-like 

 constituents is still unknown, but will be investigated at the first opportunity. 



1082. P. nigrum, Linn., h.f b.i., v. 90 ; Roxb., 51. 



Vern. : — Golmirch, kali-mirch, habsh, choca inirch, white 

 form =sa fed- mirch (Hind.); Muricha, kala-morich, gol-morich 

 (Beng.) ; Spot (Bhote) ; Martz (Kashmir) ; Gol-mirch (Pb.) ; 

 Darugarm, daurgarm, march (Afg.) ; Gulmirien (Siud) ; Miri, 

 kalamiri, white form = safed-miri (Bomb.); Kalimirch, mire (Mar.); 

 Kalamari, kalo-mirich, miri (Guz.) ; Choca, kali mirchingay, 

 Milagu (Tarn.) ; Miryala tige, miriyalu (Tel.") ; Menasu, kare 

 menasu, molu-vukodi, mirialu (Kan.) ; Lada, kuru mulaka 

 (Malay). 



Habitat :— Native in the forests of the Circars and of Assam 

 and Malabar ; cultivated in hot damp parts of India. 



A stout climber. Branches trailing and rooting at the 

 nodes, terete, quite glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, 5-7 by 2-5in., 

 sometimes glaucous beneath, usually broadly ovate, oblong or 

 nearly orbicular; base acute, rounded or cordate, equal or 

 unequal, nerves stout, alternate, 2-3 pair basal, with another 

 pair higher up which run to the tip (J. D. Hooker). Supra- 

 basal nerves, says Brand is, usually alternate. " Basal nerves 

 3-5. 1 ' Petiole J-lJin , stout. Bracts of female short, cupular, 

 wholly adnate, without raised margins. Flowers usually dioecous, 

 but often the female bears 2 anthers or the male a pistillode. 

 Anthers 2-celled. Fruiting spikes loose, glabrous, variable in 

 length and robustness, slightly interrupted, drooping 4-6in. 

 long (Brandis). Fruit globose, sessile, red when ripe ; pulp 

 thin. 



Uses :— It is officinal in both Pharmacopeias, and its uses are 

 too well known to be mentioned here. 



N. 0. MYRISTICEiE. 



1083. Myristiea malabarica, Lamk., h.f. b.i,, v. 

 103. 



Vern.: — Kanagi (Kan.); Pindi-kai (seeds), ranajayaphala, 

 jangli-jayaphal, Kaiphal (Bomb.). 



