184 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
167. 11. esculentus, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 343. 
Roxb. 529. 
Syn. : — H. longifolius, Roxb. FJ. Ind. III. 210. Abelmoschus 
esculentus, W. and A. 
English name: — Lady’s finger. 
Sans. : — Tindisa ; Gandha-mula. 
Arab, and Pers. : — Bamiya. 
Vern. : — Bhindi rdm-turai (H.) ; Dhefiras, ram-torai (B. ) ; 
Bheuda (Bom.); Bhindu Guz.) ; Bhendi (Dek.) ; Vendaik-kay, 
vendi (Tam.); Penda, benda-kaya (Tel.). 
Habitat : —Cultivated throughout India. 
A cultivated, annual, tall herb, with rough hairs. Leaves 
coarsely toothed ; petiole 6 in., more or less bristly. Stipules 
subulate. Peduncles about 1 in. Bracteoles 1 in., linear-subulate. 
Flowers yellow with a crimson centre. Staminal-tube antheri- 
ferous throughout. Fruit 6-10 by lin., pyramidal-oblong, 
glabrescent, cells 5-8-seeded. Seeds striate, hairy. 
Parts used : — The fruit, seeds and capsule. 
Use : — The Mahomedan writers describe it as cold and 
moist, and beneficial to people of a hot temperament (Dymock). 
Roxburgh recommends it in irritating cough. The 
mucilage from the fruits and seeds is useful in gonorrohoea and 
irritation of the genito-urinary system. In the Indian Pharma- 
copoeia, the immature capsules are officinal for the preparation of 
a decoction, to be used as an emollient, demulcent and diuretic 
in catarrhal affections, ardor nrinae, dysuria and gonorrhoea. 
168. H. tiliaceus, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 343. 
Roxb. 522. 
Syn .: — Paritium tiliaceum, W. and A . ; Hibiscus tiliaceus, 
Linn. 
Vern. : — Bola, chelwa (B.) ; Bania or baria (Orissa) ; Bel- 
pata (Bomb.). (Sinhalese) Beli-patta. 
Habitat : — Coasts of both Peninsulas and Bengal. 
