594 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
stimulant destroying the excess of phlegmatic humours, ' which 
ai 'c supposed to be produced in the body after delivery. 
A plaster made with the roots is said to promote the 
growth of the hair, and prevent its falling off. The plant is 
called in Sanskrit Karkataka. from the resemblance of the 
seeds to the shell of a crab. This plant is the Muricia cochin- 
chinensis of Loureiro, who says that the berries are used for 
colouring food, and that the seeds and leaves are aperient and 
abstergent and useful in hepatic and splenic obstructions, in 
unhealthy ulcerations, lumbago ; and, externally, in prucidentia 
uteri-et-ani, fractures, and luxation of the bones (Pharmaco- 
graphia Indica, VqI. II. p. 77). 
540. M. Cymbalaria, Fenzl. h.f.b.i., ii. 618. 
Syn. : — Luffa tuberosa, Roxb. 699. 
I'ern . : — Kadavanchi (Mar.). 
Habitat: — Deccan Peninsula ; Mysore and Concan. 
A monoecious climber, leaves l-2in. broad, reniform- 
orbicular, 5 angular or slightly 5 lobed, middle lobe not elong- 
ated, glabrous or slightly pubescent, often punctate on both 
surfaces, dentate ; petiole {-ljin. Flowers small, males few 
on one raceme with inconspicuous bracts. Male raceme l-2in., 
with usually only 2-4 flowers ; calyx-lobes laceolate ; petals lin., 
yellow ; filaments 2, one 2-fid, one 3-fid, so each with one antheT- 
cell ; filaments inserted near the top of the calyx-tube, anthers 
completely exsert. Female peduncle f-2in., 1-flowered, ebracte- 
ate. Fruit f by scarcely I'm. Seeds i-iin., few, shortly abovoid, 
smooth, shining. (C. B. Clarke). 
Use : — Dr. Lyon, the Chemical Analyser to the Government 
of Bombay, informs me that on reference to the records of his 
office, he finds that the kadavanchi tubers have been three times 
sent to him, within the last four years, as having been used to 
procure abortion (Dymock). 
541. CuGumis trigonus, Roxb, h.f.b.i., ii. 619 ; 
Roxb. 700. 
Vern. : — Bislombi, Bislambhi, Jangli-indrayan (H.) ; Kattut- 
tumatti (Tam.) ; Adavi-pueh-cha (Tel.). Karit (Bomb.). 
