1338 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



third or basal part of the spadix. Perianth absent, male and 

 female flowers contiguous, i. e., having no neuters between. 

 Male-Stamens numerous, dense. Anthers 2-celled, sessile, 

 close-packed, compressedly cylindrical ; rounded at the top ; 

 straw-coloured ; glabrous. Connective, longitudinal, fleshy, 

 separating the two loculi. Pollen globose, lemon-yellow, or 

 almost orange-coloured, " vermiform," says Trimen. Female 

 flowers :— pistils numerous; somewhat loosely and spirally 

 arranged ; stigma 3-lobed, often 2-lobed, all on the same level ; 

 much thickened and expanded, slightly papillose, cream-colour- 

 ed or yellowish. Style crimson or purplish, i-|in. long, 

 much longer than ovary, deciduous. Ovary, 2-rarely 3-celled, 

 with only 1 ovule ; purple or deep crimson ; broad, globose. 

 Ovules attached to the inner angle of the carpel at its base, 

 ascending, ovoid, anatropous. " Berries 2-3-seeded, red," says 

 Trimen. But not known ever to have developed in the West- 

 tern Peninsula and the Dekkan, where it is much cultivated for 



its tubers. (K. R. K.) 



It must be noted here that the wild or uncultivated variety of Amorpho- 

 phallus campanulatus is entirely different from the tuber of Amorphophallus 

 sylvaticus* (Kunth), which is also locally named Jangly-Suran, and described 

 by Dr. Dymock under that name in the Pharmaceutical Journal (p. 172, vol, vii, 

 3rd Series). Dr. Dymock was well aware of this fact at the time he first des- 

 cribed this plant, for he has since repeated his remarks in his later works,— viz., 

 "The Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India" and "The Pharmacographia 

 Indica"— that " it is probable the two plants are distinct," for he adds that 

 " it is probable the roots of the wild Amorphpallns camapnulatus form a part 

 of the commercial article known as Madanmast, which is the tuberous root 

 of Amorphophallus sylvaticus, peeled, cut into slices and strung upon a 

 string." (K. R. K.) 



Uses : — The corm (or tuber) and the seeds are used as irri- 

 tants and relieve the pain of rheumatic swellings when applied 

 externally. It is considered a hot carminative in the form of a 

 pickle. The tubers contain a large quantity of farinaceous matter, 

 mixed with acrid poisonous juice, which may be extracted by 

 washing or heat. When fresh, it acts as an acrid stimulant 

 and expectorant, and is used in acute rheumatism. 



*Synoynms.— (I) Synantherias sylvatica (Schott.)— Hooker's Flora Br. Ind., 

 art XIX, page 517 : (II) Arum silvaticum (Warden and Pedler's article on 

 he nature of the toxic principle of the Aroidese.- Journal As. Soc, Bengal, 

 vol. LVI\, part 2, No. 1.) 



