CHENOPODIUM ALBUM — PHYTOLACCA ACINOSA. 



21 



CHENOPODIUM ALBUM, Linn.* 



White goosefoot; bathwa, bathu (Hind.) 



Natural order Chenopodiacece. An erect herb usually coated with a mealy substance. Stems 

 and inflorescence often tinged with purple or red. Flowers minute, bisexual, green, arranged in 

 panicled spikes. 



A common weed of cultivation all over India, and on the Himalaya up to 12,000 

 feet, and it is said to occur in Tibet up to 14,000 feet. It is also cultivated. Rox- 

 burgh says : "In India we have two varieties of this species, one entirely green, the 

 " other with the angles of the stem and branches of a beautiful purple colour, and the 

 " leaves and mealy panicles somewhat reddish." It is grown by the hillmen as a rainy 

 season crop for its leaves and seeds. 



The leaves are eaten as a pot-herb seasoned with various spices, and often mixed 

 with ddl. The seeds are said to be superior to buck-wheat. The leaves of the wild 

 plant are also collected and cooked as a green vegetable. 



Professor Church says that the leaves are rich in mineral matters, particularly in 

 potash salts, and that they also contain a considerable amount of albumenoids and 

 other compounds of nitrogen. 



The seeds are used to clean copper vessels preparatory to tinning them. — Brown 

 in Baden Powell's Punj. Prod., 372. 



PHYTOLACCA ACINOSA, RoxW 



Indian poke; jagrei (Garhwal) ; jirrug (Kumaun). 



Natural order Phytolaccacece. A succulent herb with stout stems 3-5 feet high. Leaves 

 elliptic-ovate or lanceolate acuminate, thinly succulent. Flowers in racemes. Ripe carpels fleshy. 



This plant is found wild all along the Himalayas, and is also cultivated up to 

 10,000 feet for its leaves and fruit, which are cooked and eaten either alone or in curries. 

 In the raw state it possesses powerful narcotic properties which disappear in the 

 cooking of the plant. 



* References :— FL Br. Ind., V., 3 ; Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Clarke's Ed.), 260 ; I3oiss., Fl. Or., IV., 901 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. 

 Prod., II., 265 ; Atkinson, Econom. Prod., N.-W. Prov., V., 41 ; Him. Dist., I., 696, 708 ; Church, Food Grains of India, 109. 



t Fl. Br. Ind., V., 21 ; Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Clarke's Ed.), 389 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. Prod. VI., Part I., 226 ; Rovle, 111. 

 Him. Dot., 320 ; Stewart, Punj. PI., 176 ; Atkinson, Econom. Prod., N.-W. Prov., 42 ; Him. Dist., L, 708. 



