386 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
obliquely ovoid or cordate-ovate, with a slight obtuse notch on 
either side under the apex ; unequally compressed ; slightly 
convex in some parts, and quite plain in others ; cup fleshy, 
orange-red, smooth, succulent, sweet, edible when ripe, formed 
of the thickened disk and accrescent Calyx-base. Pericarp 
smooth, shining, black, thick ; containing between the outer 
and inner laminse roundish or oblong cells, full of corrosive 
resinous juice. This juice is white when the fruit is young, 
darkening on exposure to air. In the mature fruit, it is brown- 
ish or perfectly black ; inner lamina hard, rugose, outer smooth, 
leathery, less hard. Seed pendulous, with a swollen dr umbil- 
licate funicle (Lubbock). 
Testa coriaceous, inner coat somewhat fleshy. Embryo 
thick, milk-white. Plumule ovate-leaved, veined, conduplicate, 
very thin. Cotyledons fleshy, thick, white, irregularly plano- 
convex. Albumen absent. Radicle superior, minute, connate 
with the apex of the cotyledons, always directed to the hilum. 
Parts used : — The fruit. 
Use : — In Hindoo medicine the ripe fruits are regarded as 
acrid, heating, stimulant, digestive, nervine and escharotic, and 
are used in dyspepsia, piles, skin diseases, nervous debility, &c. 
(Dutt). 
Mahomedan writers consider the juice of the pericarp to be 
hot and dry, useful in all kinds of skin diseases, palsy, epilepsy 
and other affections of the nervous system. Externally, it is 
applied to cold swellings, such as piles (Dymock). 
The Hakeems administer it for weakness of memory, epilepsy, 
etc. They consider* it to be injurious to the liver, inflames the 
blood, and can produce melancholia, insanity, frenzy, etc. 
(Honnigberger.) 
The Telingee physicians use it as a specific in all kinds of 
venereal affections (Roxburgh). A brown gum exudes from 
the bark which the Hindus regard as a valuable medicine in 
scrofulous, venereal and leprous affections (Ainslie). An oil 
from the nut acts as a vesicant in rheumatism and sprains 
(Ainslie). 
