N. 0. EUPHORBUCEiE 1173 



Uses:— The seeds are used as a drastic purgative, but in 

 over-doses are an acro-narcotic poison; they are sometimes 

 used as a substitute for Croton Tiglium. They are also used 

 externally as a stimulant and rubefacient. The oil is a 

 powerful hydragcgue cathartic and is useful for external ap- 

 plication in rheumatism. Madden states that to the east of 

 the Sutlej its leaves are in high repute for wounds, and its sap 

 is believed to corrode iron. The root is considered cathartic, 

 and is used in dropsy, anasarca, and jaundice. 



"A decoction of the leave said to be useful in asthma." 

 (Asst.-Surg. Bhagwan Das, Rawal Pindi, Punjab.) 



1160. Tragia involucrata, Linn., H.F.B.I., V 

 .465 ; Roxb. 652. 



Sans. :— Vrischi-kali. 



Vern. :— Barhanta (H.) ; Bichati (B.) ; Kan churi (Tarn.); 

 Sengel, sing (Santal) ; Kinch-kure (Deccan); Kanch kuri, 

 khaj-kolti (Bomb. ) ; China-dula gondi, revati-dula gondi, truna- 

 dula, gondi, duruda-gunti, tella-dura dagondi (Tel.). 



Habitat :— Throughout India, from the Punjab and Lower 

 Himalaya of Kumaon, eastward to Assam, and southward to 

 Burma, Travancore and Ceylon. 



A perennial, evergreen twiner, more or less pubescent or 

 hispid and with scattered stinging bristles, rarely almost glab- 

 rous. Leaves from linear-oblong to broadly ovate-cordate, 

 acuminate, serrate, and from entire to deeply 3-fid or tripartite, 

 with irregularly serrate or sub-pinnatifid lobes, l-4in., membran- 

 ous, protean in form. (J. D. Hooker.) Racemes l-2in., slender, 

 hispid or glabrous. Bracts small or minute. Male flowers 

 minute, shortly pedicelled, sepals and stamens 3 ; pistillode 

 3-fid. Female flowers strigosely hispid, fruiting fin. diam., 

 stellately rigid, spreading, oblong, pinnatifid, rarely sub-entire. 



Uses : — The root is valued in febricula and in itching of the 

 skin. (Rheede). The Vytians reckon it amongst those medicines 

 which they conceive to possess virtues in altering and correcting 

 the habit, in cases of maygham (cachexia) and in old venereal 



