92 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Surson, (Sindh) ; Khakshi (Bomb.); Rantikhi (Mar.) ; Khakshir 
(Pers.) 
Habitat: — Northern India, from Rajputana to the Punjab. 
An annual or biennial, tall, glabrous herb. Stem 1-3 ft., 
quite glabrous or slightly pubescent at base. Leaves petioled, 
runcinate, pinnatifid, segments remote, spreading, toothed not 
auricled ; terminal large, sometimes hastate. Pedicels slender. 
Flowers yellow, minute. Fruiting pedicels slender, young pods 
overtopping the raceme. Old 3-nerved. Pods 1^-2 in., slen- 
der, erect, glabrous, subtorulose. 
Parts used : — The seeds. 
Use : — The seed is expectorant and restorative, and used 
externally as a stimulating poultice (Dymock.) 
It is also said to be a febrifuge (Stewart. 1 
79 . Brassica nigra, Koch, h.f.b.i., i. 156 . 
Syn. : — Sinapis erysimoides, Roxb. 499. 
Sans. : — Sarshap. 
Vern. : — Rai, Kali rai, tira, taramira, lahi, banarsirai, 
jag-rai, aal-rai, ghor-rai, makra-rai (H) ; Rai-Saron, (Bom). ; 
Kadagho (Tam); Avalo (Tel.); Bile Sasive, Karisasive, sasive, 
(Kan).; Abor, Suraj, Kali-surson (Sindh) ; Kali Sarson (Kumaon). 
Habitat : — Cultivated in various parts of India. 
An annual, 2-3 ft. high, rigid, branched, more or less 
hispid. Leaves 4-8 in., petioled ; lower lyrate* upper entire. 
Racemes naked. Flowers LI in. diatn., bright yellow. 
Sepals spreading. Pods Li in-, subulate; valves keeled, 
torulose ; cells 3-5-seeded. Seeds oblong. 
Parts used : — The seeds. 
Uses: — The seeds of this plant are used in medicine as- 
poultice, being a useful and simple rubefacient and vesicant. 
Mustard poultices prove highly serviceable in cases of febrile 
and inflammatory diseases, internal congestions, spasmodic, 
neuralgic, and rheumatic affections. Mustard flour in water is 
highly recommended as a speedy and safe emetic. 
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