N. O. CYPERACE^. 1357 



practice they are held in great esteem as a cure for disorders 

 of the stomach and irritation of the bowels. The bulbous 

 roots are scraped and pounded with green ginger, and in this 

 form, mixed with honey, they are given in cases of dysentery in 

 doses of about a scruple. (Taylor's Med. Top. of Dacca.) In the 

 Concan, the fresh tubers are applied to the breast in the form 

 of lep as a galactagogue. (Dymock.) The roots are in Chutia 

 Nagpur used in fever, (Campbell.) 



Arabian and Persian writers describe the drug as attenuant, 

 diuretic, emmenagogue and diaphoretic. They state that it 

 is prescribed in febrile and dsypeptic affections, and in large 

 doses as an anthelmintic, and externally as applied to ulcers 

 or used as an ingredient to warm plasters. (Dymock.) 



1329. G. eseulentus, Linn., h.f.b.i., vi. 616. 



Vern. : — Kaseru, dila (Pb.). 



Habitat : — From the Punjab to Nilgiri Mounts scattered, 

 but not common. 



Stem at base erect. Stolons lateral, long, very slender, with 

 small pale scales, often disappearing after the tubers are 

 formed ; tubers (ripe) woody ; more regularly zoned than those 

 of C. rotundus. Leaves and bracts long. Spikelets yellow or 

 yellow-brown. Glumes over nearly their whole breadth plicate- 

 striate; (otherwise as G. rotundus). Glumes in fruit slightly 

 rigid, so that they are less closely imbricated (than in G. rotun- 

 dus), the spikelets more turgid. So close to G. rotundus that 

 it is much mixed with it in many herbaria. (C. B. Clarke.) 



Use :• — In the U. P. the root is officinal as kaseru (Stewart). 

 It so closely resembles C. rotundas that it is highly probable the reputed 

 discoveries of it in India and elsewhere are in some instances at least due to 

 mistaken determinations. It has, however, been recorded as found in one or 

 two localities in the Punjab and in the Nilgiri hills, but nowhere common. It 

 thus no doubt exists in India, but until fresh investigations have been made 

 it is perhaps desirable to leave the matter in this position. Repeated efforts 

 have, however, been put forth (so it has been affirmed) to introduce the culti- 

 vation of this plant, but with absolute failure everywhere. The present 

 species, therefore, contributes no known portion of the supply of edible 

 Cyperus tubers in India. Of other countries it is reported the tubers are 

 often roasted, then ground to a powder, and used in the preparation of chufas 

 coffee or chufas chocolate. [Cf. Kew Mus. Guide, 1895, No. 2, 59.] (Watt.). 



