1314 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



which is not uncommon on the west coast of the Madras 

 Peninsula. It is well adapted for pharmaceutical purposes. 

 A glass of the freshly-drawn toddy, taken early in the morning, 

 acts as a laxative." (Pharm. of India.) 



" The nut is used as an application to the head in cases of 

 hemicrania, from an idea of the supposed efficiency of the 

 half-nut in curing the affected half of the head." (S. Arjun.) 

 The pith or farinaceous part of the trunk of old trees is 

 considered to be almost equal to the best sago of commerce ; 

 it is baked into bread and boiled into a thick gruel. 



1299. Phoenix dactylifera, Linn., h.f.b.l, vl, 

 425, Roxb. 723. 



Sans. : — Kharjura ; Pinda Kharjura. 



Vern. : — Tree = Khajur, khaji; fruit = khurma, chhuhara, 

 kukyan, khujiyan, kujran, pindakhejur (Hind.) ; tr. = Khajiir. fr. 

 = khurrna, pindakhejur (Beng.); Kasser (Bhot.) ; tr. = khajui 

 khaji; fr. =pind, chfrwai, bagri, khajiir, kukyan ; cabbage of 

 leaves = gadda, galli ; gum = hokmchil, gond, sher-i-darakht i- 

 khurma (Pb.) ; tr. = mach, fr. = khurma (N. Baluch.) ; Kajura 

 (Pushtu); Karmah (Turki) ; Pind chirdi, kurma, tar, khaji; 

 fr.=jarikha, clanuko (Sind.) ; tr. = khajiir, fr. = tamara, rajib, 

 nakel, kurma, chuara (Bomb.) ; Kharjiir (Mar.) ; Khajiir, kharik* 

 (Guz.); fr.^perich-chankay (Tam.^ ; Kharjurapu, perita ; mudda 

 kharjurapu; fr. — karjuru-kaya (Tel.); Kharjura (Kan.); fr.— 

 Tenich-chan-kaya (Malay.). 



Habitat : — Cultivated in the Punjab, Sind and Trans-Indus. 



A tall palm, attaining 100-120ft., the foot often surrounded 

 by a dense mass of root-sacks. Leaves grey, longer than those 

 of P. sylvestris. Leaflets making a very acute angle with the 

 common petiole. Fruit l-3in. long ; pulp substantial, very 

 sweet. The best fruit comes from Muscat ; the next best is that 

 from Persia. 



Uses : — Dates are considered demulcent, expectorant, laxa- 

 tive, nutrient and aphrodisiac. They are prescribed in cases 

 ♦Kharik is young Khajiir, boiled in milk, hence its crumpled form (K.R.K). 



