N. 0. AROIDEJE. 1341 



spotted with green, purple within towards the base. Spadix 

 up to lOin. long, erect, appendage up to 7in., by fin. diam. ; 

 but often more slender, sometimes tapering from the middle 

 to base and apex, purple, smooth. Male flowers of scattered or 

 fascicled minute sessile obcuneate anthers (J. D. H.) Anthers 

 in gioups of 4-6, purple or pink ; ovary globose, green, 

 stigma yellow ; style very short, neuters as large as the groups 

 of stamens or larger oval or oblong, disciform, pale, shining. 

 Male and female infloresence distant, with the oblong depressed 

 interposed neuters. 



Uses : — The country people use the crushed seed to cure 

 toothache. A small quantity is placed in the hollow tooth and 

 covered with cotton ; it rapidly benumbs the nerve ; they also 

 use it as an external application to bruises on account of its 

 benumbing effect. In the Concan, the seeds rubbed into a 

 paste with water are applied repeatedly to remove glandular 

 enlargements. The taste of the fruit is intensely acrid ; after 

 a few seconds it causes a most painful burning of the tongue 

 and lips, which lasts, for a long time, causing much salivation 

 and subsequent numbness. (Dymock.) 



1315. Plesmomum margaritiferum, Schott, 

 H.F.B.I., vi. 518. 



Syn. : — Arum margaritiferum, Roxb. 630. 



Vern. : — The Goa name of the plant is Azomut or Uzomut. 

 (Dymock). 



Habitat : — Bengal (Roxb.) ; Serampore (Bentham) ; Dacca 

 (Clarke) ; Asnora in the Goa territory (Dymock) ; Hindustan. 



Tuberous herbs. Tuber 6in. or less, bulbiferous all over. 

 Leaves lift, diam., 3-sect, segments pinnatisect, lateral forked ; 

 leaflets few, 4-6in., linear, acuminate. Petiole l|-2ft. green. 

 Peduncle 12-18in., stout, pale-green, streaked with darker 

 green. Spathe 5-6in. by 4in. broad, erect, broadly ovate, obtuse, 

 concave, loosely convolute ; below the middle, pale yellow- 

 green, flushed with pink within, dark-purple at base. Spadix 

 very stout, stipitate, obtuse, as long as the spathe ; male inflo- 

 resecence much the longest ; neuters as large as peas, white, 



