100 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
At the 2nd Australasian Medical Congress, held at 
Melbourne, in January 1880, Surgeon-Major K. R. Kirtikar 
exhibited a specimen of oil obtained from the seeds of Cleome 
viscosa, Linn, (prepared by the late Mr. Periera of the Bombay 
Medical Stores), and made the following observations on the 
occasion. “ The plant has a great reputation as a remedy for 
chronic Otorrhoea. The action is chiefly antiseptic, as it contains 
a powerful volatile principle, not unlike in smell to that of 
mustard. This active principle has, besides, stimulating 
properties.” 
87. Gynandropsis pentaphylla , DG. h.f.b.i., 
i . 171. 
Syn. : — Cleome pentaphyla, Linn. ; Roxb. 500, 501. 
Sam. : — Surjavarta; Arkapushpika. 
Fern. : — Hurh.hr, hulhul, karaila, churota (H.) ; Harhuriya 
Khndld, bansarishd, arkahuli, Sdddhurhidra (B.) ; Setakata arak, 
Guma (Santa).) ; kathal parhar (U. P.) ; Halhal (Dec.); kinro, 
(Sind.), Tilavana, mabli (Mar.) : velai, neivaylla, lcadughu (Tam.) ; 
Vaminta, vela-kura, (Tel.); tai-vela, kara-vela, vela (Malay.) 
Habitat : — A common weed throughout the warm parts of 
India. Very common in Ceylon in waste and cultivated ground. 
An erect, branched annual 2-4 ft. Stem shaggy with 
long, white, spreading hair. Leaves 5-foliate, leaflets sessile, 
broadly ovate, acute, entire, pubescent on both sides and 
ciliate, pale beneath, terminal largest, 1J-2 in. ; petiole 2 in., 
stout, hairy and rough with prickles ; flowers at first distinctly 
corymbose, afterwards in long erect racemes, bracts of 3 sessile 
leaflets, many empty. Pedicels over | in., viscoid, pubescent ; 
sepals narrowly lanceolate, acute gladular-pubescent ; petals 
rotundate, with a long narrow claw thrice the length of sepals, 
all curved upward ; stamens inserted about half-way up ; ovary 
on summit of a gynophore, linear-oblong, very glandular ; style 
0, stigma capitate, flat ; ovules numerous ; pods 2-3 in., linear, 
slightly curved, somewhat compressed, viscid, pubescent. Seeds 
helicoid-reniform, rough, dark brown (Trimen). 
