98 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
A coarse rough annual, edible, cultivated throughout 
India in gardens. Root fleshy, pungent, variable in size and 
form. Leaves roughly pilose ; lower ones lyrat.e. Flowers 
variable, usually white or lilac, with purple veins. Pods in- 
dehiscent, terete, 1 in. to 2ft. (R. caudatus), more or less 
constricted between the seeds, prolonged beyond the valves in a 
pointed beak, about half the length of the pod. Seeds 
separated by pith. 
Parts used : — The seeds, and root. 
Uses : — The seeds are diuretic, laxative, and lithontriptic, 
and the roots used for urinary and syphilitic diseases. Stewart 
says the seeds are considered to be emmenagogue in the 
Punjab. 
The seeds, in doses of one drachm, are useful in gonorrhoea. 
The root is a reputed medicine for piles and gastrodynic pain 
(Watt). 
The juice of the fresh leaves is also used as a diuretic and 
laxative. 
In full and repeated doses, the seeds sometimes produce 
vomiting, but this is so rare that they cannot be regarded as 
an emetic (Moodeen Sheriff). 
N. 0. CAPPARIDEAE. 
86. Cleome viseosa, Linn. H.F.B.I., I. 170. 
Roxb. 501. 
Syn. : — Polanisia icosandra, W. & A. 
Sans. : — Barbara, Karnasphota, Tilparni, Adityabhakta. 
Vern. : — Kfinphuti, Hulhul, Purbur (H.); Boogra Pb.) ; 
Roor-hooria B.) ; Kathoree (Sind.), Kanphuti, Pivala tilavana, 
(Bomb.) ; Nayavayhe, Nahikuddaghoo (Tamil); Kukawominta, 
(Teling.) ; Kat-kuddagho (Mai.) ; Jangli-hulvul, Choorai-ajwani, 
(Dec.) ; Tinmaui, Tilwan (Guz.). Wal-aba, Ran-manissa (Sin- 
halese). 
Habitat -. — Throughout tropical and warm India; Bombay, 
Tbana, Gujerat, Ceylon. 
