N. 0. MALVACEAE 
173 
usually with beaks, as long as themselves. Flowers fellow, be- 
coming white when fading. 
The steins afford a good fibre. 
A very common weed in Ceylon in the dry country. 
Use : -The root is held in great repute by natives in 
the treatment of rheumatism (Ph. Ind.). The stems abound 
in mucilage, and are employed as demulcents and emollients 
both for external and internal use. 
153. S. rhombifolia, Var. rhomboidea, Roxb. 
h.f.b.i., i. 324, Roxb. 517. 
Syn : — S. orientalis, Cav. Diss I ; t. 12. 
Sam. : — Mahahalfl . 
Vein — Swetberela (B.) ; Sufed-bariyala (H.); At.hiballa- 
ehettu (Tam.} 
Leaves rhomboid, hoary beneath ; peduncles jointed at 
the base; carpellary awns very short inflected. The flowers 
expand at noon (Roxb.) 
Use : — Medicinal properties resemble those of other spe- 
cies (Watt.) 
154. 8. cordifolia , Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 324. 
Roxb. 517. 
Sans. : — Batydlaka ; Bald. 
Vern. : — Kungyee, kharati, bariar (H.) ; Barila, bald (B.) ; 
Chiknd (Mar.) ; Kharenti (Pb.) ; Baridra (Sind.) ; Muttava, 
kobirsir bhaji (Konkan); chiribena, tettagorra chettu, tel 1 a antisa, 
(Tel). 
The seeds. Beejbund (H.) ; Hamaz, chukai (Pb.). 
Annual or perennial, downy, ereet. Leaves 11-2 by 1-11 in., 
cordate- oblong obtuse crenate, very downy on both surfaces, 
petiole as large as the leaf. Stipules linear, half the length of 
the petiole. Peduncles jointed near the flower, lower distant, 
longer than the petioles, upper crowded, very short. Flowers 
rather small. Carpels furrowed at the back, sides reticulated, 
