56 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
nerves and reticulated veinlets very prominent beneath. Petioles 
3-4 in. Flowers sessile in small dense rounded beads, which 
are long-stalked and umbellately or racemosely arranged in the 
axils of the leaves. Pedicels yellow-tomentose ; bracts beneath 
the flowers numerous, small, imbricated. Sepals rounded, 
persistent. Petals ovate, spreading. Female 11. .-—Carpels hairy, 
styles filiform, reflexed. Ripe carpels (Drupes) 1-3, globose, 
£ in., densely tomentose, brown . 
Part used : — The root. 
Use The root is extensively used in the hospitals of the 
Madras Presidency as an efficient bitter tonic. A writer, quoted 
by Christie, says of Ceylon that this root is viewed “ as a very 
good substitute for Calumba. 1 have used it with good results 
in the form of tincture and infusion. It has also antiseptic pro- 
perties to a great extent, and can be used for dressing wounds 
and ulcers.” The wood is of a bright yellow colour, and is 
valued as a bitter tonic by the Sinhalese. 
Dr. Moodeen Sheriff considered the action of the drug to be 
“antipyretic, antiperiodic, tonic and stomachic,” and useful 
“ in slight cases of continued and intermittent fevers, debility, 
and certain forms of dyspepsia. It may be used in place of 
Cinchona, Gentian or Calumba, called “ False Calumba.” A 
yellow dye is also obtained from it. — Trimen. “Used in 
diabetes, and also in cases of suppression of lochia.” (Watt). 
43 . Cocculus villosus, DC. h.f.b.i., i. 101 . 
Syn. ■ — Menispermum hirsutum, Linn; Holopeira villosa, 
leviscula and auriculata, Miers. 
In the Concan the Vaids give this plant the Sanskrit name 
of Vana-tiktika. Patalgarudi, Vatsadani (Sansk. 
Vern. : — Jamti-ki-bel, liier, dier, (H.) ; Kursan, Zamir 'Sind) ; 
Vasana-vela Hundir, Tdnvel (Mar.) ; Wassan-wel, parwell, 
(Bomb.); Vevdi (Guj) Vadhino vel (Porebunder) Kattukkodi 
(Tam.) ; Dusari-tige, Chipura-tige, Katletige ,Tel.). 
Habitat : — Throughout tropical and sub-tropical India, from 
