N. 0. URTICACEJE. 



1187 



small, irregular plates. Wood grey, moderately hard ; no heart- 

 wood, having narrow, wavy, concentric bands of soft tissue and 

 darker colour. Pores moderate-sized and large, sometimes very 

 large, often sub-divided, scanty, scattered irregularly. Medullary 

 rays fine, equi-distant, but not numerous. On a radial section 

 the pores and soft bands are distinctly marked, giving the 

 wood a characteristic grain, but larger pores being frequently 

 oblique. (Gamble). Young shoots pubescent. Leaves glabrous 

 when mature, approximate near the ends of branches, ovate, 

 mostly obtuse ; base cordate or rounded ; basal nerves 3-5 ; the 

 midrib with 4-6 pair of secondary nerves ; blade 4-8in. ; petiole 

 1-2 in. Fruit globose, pubescent, i-Jin. diam., sessile, scarlet 

 when ripe, supported by 2-4 broad, obtuse bracts. 



Uses : — The milky juice is externally applied for pains and 

 bruises and in rheumatism and lumbago. It is considered 

 as a valuable application to the soles of the feet when cracked 

 or inflamed, and is also applied to the teeth and gums as a 

 remedy for tooth-ache. 



An infusion of the bark is supposed to be a powerful 

 tonic and is considered to have specific properties in the treat- 

 ment of diabetes. The seeds are deemed cooling and tonic. 

 The leaves are applied, heated as a poultice, to abscesses, 

 and after they have turned yellow are given with roasted rice 

 in decoction as a diaphoretic. The root fibres are given in 

 gonorrhoea in the Punjab, being considered by Vaids to resemble 

 Sarsaparilla. An infusion of the small branches is useful in 

 haemoptysis. The tender ends of the hanging roots are given 

 for obstinate vomiting. 



(1) Composition of a dried specimen of Ficus bengalensis (from Perawa)— 

 Water ... ... ... ... 11*4 



Albuminoids 

 Oil 



Carbohydrates 

 Fibre 

 Ash 



7*1 



4-0 

 35-2 

 36-8 



5-5 



100-0 



