1108 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Vern. : — Amarbeli (H.) ; Akasbel (B.) ; Alagjari (Santal) ; 

 Akaswel, Amarvella (Mar.); Kotan (Duk.) ; Cottan (Tarn.); 

 Paunch figa (Tel.) ; Acatsjabulli (Mai.). 



Habitat : — From Banda to Bengal, and Obittagong and 

 southwards to Travancore. 



A filiform, twining, parasite, adhering to the host by suckers, 

 quite glabrous ; young' parts puberulous. Stems slender. 

 Branches numerous, forming a web of leafless cords over bushes. 

 Spikes i-2in. Bracts rounded, ciliate. Perianth twice the 

 length of the rounded, ciliate bracteoles. Perianth segments, 

 outer sepals small, rounded ciliate ; inner much longer, oblong 

 or ovate. Fruit glabrous, globose, succulent, smooth (not ribbed , 

 the size of a pea, crowned with perianth-lobes. 



Uses :— - Sanskrit writers describe it as a tonic and alterative, 

 and regard it as possessing the power of increasing the secre- 

 tion of semen. (U. C. Dutt.) 



The drug consists of the slender thread-like stems of the 

 plant. It has a mucilaginous taste, but no odour. It is em- 

 ployed in Mauri tins in the form of decoction for intestimal 

 derangement and as a tonic for scrofulous and rachitic infants. 

 This is another eastern remedy whose use extends to Mada- 

 gascar. In India, the powdered plant mixed with sesamum oil 

 is used to strengthen the hair, and by ths Brahmins for cleans- 

 ing inveterate ulcers, for which purpose it is mixed with butter 

 and ginger. The juice mixed with sugar is considered a 

 specific in inflamed eyes. (Treas. Bot., p 234.) Its properties 

 are probably due to a mucilage. (Ph. 1. 12. 8. 82, p. 122.) 



Chem. comp.—M. Greshoff has detected an alkaloid in this plant, having 

 the following colour reactions ? sulphuric acid faint red, Eardrnann's reagent 

 (sulphuric acid mixed with a little nitric acid) blue, nitric acid red-brown, 

 Frohde's reagent dirty blue. Dr. Greshoff believes that on a closer invest- 

 igation of this alkaloid, it will be found to be identical with laurotetanine 

 described under Litsrea sebifera. (Pharmacog. Ind. III. 216.) 



N. 0. THYMELACCEJE. 



1097. Daphne o/eoides, Schreb., h.f.b.l, v. 193. 



Syn. : — D. mucronata, Royle. 



