410 
USEFUL PLANTS OF THE DISTRICT OF LAKHlMPUR. 
197. S. spirale Roxb. F. B. I. iv, 230; Beng PL 745; D. E. P. 
vi, 3, 264. 
Sadiya. No. 369. 
Local name. — Teta kusL 
Distrib. — From East Bengal to Burma. 
A small shrub with neither thorns nor hairs. The flowers are arranged in short racemes, 
each flower having $ rather long stalk. 
Common, especially at Sadiya. The leaves are eaten in curry. 
198. S. tuberosum L. F. B. I. iv, 229 ; Eng. & Prantl iv, 3b, 22; 
Beng. PL 745 ; D. E. P. vi, 3, 265. 
Dibrugarh. No. 98. 
Local NAME.—Bambai alii. “ Potato.” 
Distrib— Cultivated throughout the world. 
Potatoes thrive in Lakhimpnr especially on the sandy soil near the river. They are 
^generally sown ir. October and dug up in February. 
199. S. melongena L. F. B. I. iv, 235 ; Eng. and Prantl iv, 3b, 23 ; 
Beng. PI. 746 ; D. E. P. vi, 3, 258. 
Dibrugarh. Nos. 15^ 16, 17, and 81. Sadiya. No. 366. 
Local name. — Benga, baingan. “ Brinjal,” “ Egg Plant.” 
Distrib.— Cultivated throughout India and the warmer regions of the 
globe. Native land not known. 
The brinjal is cultivated throughout Lakhimpur especially by settlers from up- 
country. 
The three chief varieties are 
(i) “ Dangar benga. ’'—A stout annual form with large leaves and very large purple 
fruits. 
(ii) A perennial form with small dark fruits. 
(iii) A perennial form with small white fruits. 
200. S. torvum Sw. F. B. I. iv, 234 ; Beng. Pl. 746 ; D. E. P, vi, 3, 
264 ; Pharmacog. Ind. ii, 560. 
Dibrugarh. Nos. 346 and 41184. 
Local name.— Hath! bhekurl. 
Distrib. — Throughout tropical parts of India* very common in 
Bengal and Assam. Also Malaya, China, Philippines and Tropical 
America. 
A shrub with prickly stems ; there are no pricklag on the leaves which bear star-like 
hairs. This species has been a great pest in Upper Assam ; it is sail that the military 
outpost at Saikhoa was deserted chiefly because it was overwhelmed by this plant. It is 
now common at Saikhoa and Sadiya but not elsewhere. The fruits are eiten as a vege- 
table and said to be good for enlarged spleen. 
