220 
INDIAN MliDICINAL PLANTS. 
tapat, kashta, bhungi or baDpat (B.) ; Bun-pat (Sind) ; Ban-phal 
(N.-W. P. and Pb.) ; Peratti-kirai (Tam.) ; Parinta (Tel.)Tankla, 
Chunch ; Mothi Chunch (Bombay.) 
Habitat : — Indigenous in many parts of India. Low 
country weed in Ceylon. 
An annual herb, more or less covered with stellate pube- 
scence. Leaves 2-4 by 1-2 in., nearly glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, 
3-5-nerved, serrate, the two lower serratures prolonged into a 
long sharp point ; petiole 1-2 in., pilose. Stipules shorter 
than the petioles. Peduncles l-3-fi6wered ; shorter than the 
petiole. Sepals small, shortly-pointed. Petals yellow, spathulate, 
longer than the sepals. Fruit a capsule 2 in. long.cylindric, 
glabrous, 10-ribbed, “ 10-12-times longer than broad.” (Arnold). 
Beak entire. Valves with transverse partitions between the 
seeds, beak long, erect. Cultivated as a potherb, or for its fibre 
(Jute). The very soft pithy wood is used for county-made 
sulphur-tipped matches. 
Parts used : — The leaves, seeds. 
Uses : — The leaves and tender shoots are eaten, and in the 
dried state, known as nalita ; they are used in infusion by the 
natives as a domestic medicine, being tonic and slightly feb- 
rifuge, and hence used as a fever drink (Watt.) According 
to Ainslie, the Hindoos reduce the plant to ashes and mix it 
with honey for administration in obstructions of the abdominal 
viscera. 
Twining speaks favorably of an infusion of the leaves as 
a useful fever drink. 
Mr. Atkinson says : — The leaves are emollient, and used 
in infusion as refrigerant in fevers and special diseases. The 
dried plant roasted and powdered, is used in visceral obstruc- 
tions. 
Dr. Kanay Lall Dey says : — The dried leaves are sold 
in the market. A cold infusion is used as a bitter tonic, 
and is devoid of any stimulating property. It can be safely 
given to patients recovering from acute dysentery to restore 
the appetite, and improve the strength. Six grains of the 
powder, combined with an equal quantity of curcuma longa, 
