430 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Vern .: — Kuaaliya (M. & B.); Moonoodda-moddoo (Tel.); 
-Jangli or Ran methi (Bombay). 
Habitat : — Everywhere in the plains, throughout India ; 
Kumaon and Kashmir. ' 
Trailing herbs, a-l^ft , stems caespitose, very slender, copious- 
ly branched, clothed with fine spreading hairs. Leaves 3-foliate. 
Stipules lanceolate, persistent; petioles i-?in.; leaflets obovate, 
l-sin., truncate or emarginate, with a few adpressed hairs below. 
Flowers 1-3 together, without a common peduncle in the axils 
of the leaves. Bracts deciduous. Pedicels f-f in. Calyx pubes- 
cent, 1 -fin. ; teeth very long, setaceous. Pod -f-fin. long, fin. 
broad, 3-5-jointed distinctly, pubescent ; upper suture straight, 
lower slightly indented. 
Use : — The fresh leaves are applied to wounds and abscesses 
that do not heal well (Wight). 
A paste of the bruised leaves with kamala is applied to in- 
dolent sores and itch. In the mofussil, the fresh juice of the 
plant is given to children for coughs (S. Arj nn ). In Ceylon, 
it is used in dysentery (Watt). 
377. Abrus precatorius, Linn., h.f.b.i., ii. 175, 
Roxb. 544. 
Sans. : — Gunja. 
Fern. : — Rati (H.) ; Kunch (B.) ; gumchi (Guz.) ; Maspat 
(Nepal); Kawet(SantaL) ; LatuwanifAss.) ; Gundumani (Tam.); 
Ghurie-ghenza (Tel.;.. 
Habitat : — From the Himalayas, throughout India. 
A perennial twiuer. Stems numerous, scarcely woody, 
slender, glabrous, with long internodes. Leaves spreading, 
pinnate, rachis 2-4in., thickened at base, very slender, chan- 
nelled, very glabrous. Stipules minute, setaceous. Leaflets 
20-24 (10-20 pair) or more, opposite, very shortly stalked, 
quickly deciduous, about fin., oblong, obtuse at both ends, 
minutely apiculate, glabrous above, slightly hairy beneath, thin; 
flowers pale violet, rather small, shortly stalked, several together 
on very short, swollen, knob-like branches, crowded at; ends of 
