1292 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Habitat : — Extensively cultivated in India during the latter 

 part of the rains. 



Root biennial, or more, consisting of a fascicle of several 

 ovate, oblong bulbs, generally (as found in the markets) about 

 as large as the first joint of the middle finger. Leaves some- 

 what bifarious, fistulous, more than semi-cylindrical, tapering, 

 pointed, compressed toward the apex, smooth and shorter than 

 the scapes. Scapes rising from the centre of the short stem 

 formed by the united sheathes of the leaves, naked, round, 

 smooth, slightly swelled towards the base and from thence ta- 

 pering to the umbel, from one to two feet long. Sheaths shorter 

 than the umbel, irregularly bursting into two or three sub-ovate 

 segments. Umbels globular, as much as two-hundred-flowered. 

 Flowers like those of the common onion (Allium cepa). Petals 

 equal, expanding, shorter than the stamens, white, with a green 

 keel. Filaments erect, alternately dilated at the base. Anthers 

 ovate, green. (Roxburgh.) 



Uses : — It is used to cure earache, a small piece being placed 

 in the meatus. It is also fried in butter and preserved in 

 honey as an aphrodisiac. (Pharmacogra. Ind., Vol., III. p. 492). 



1281. A. Cepa, Linn., h.f.b.i., vi., 337 ; Roxb. 



287. 



Sans. : — Palandu. 



Vern : — Piyaz (H. B. and Pb.) ; Dungari (Guz. and Sind.) , 

 Kanda (Mar.); Vella-Vengazam, irulli, ira-vengay-am (Tarn.); 

 Vulli-gaddalu, niruli (Tel.) ; Vengazam, nirulli, kumbali (Kan.) ; 

 Bawang (Mai.). 



Habitat: — Cultivated all over India. 



Leaves fistular, sub-distichous, shorter than the inflated 

 scape. Heads dense with flowers and bulbils. Pedicels 

 shorter than the stellate flowers ; sepals linear-oblong ; 

 filaments exserted, simple, or the inner 2-toothed at base. 



Uses : — The bulbs contain an acrid, volatile oil, which acts as 

 a stimulant, diuretic, and expectorant. Onions are occasionally 

 used in fever, dropsy and catarrh, and chronic bronchitis ; in colic 



