N. 0. GERANIAOE^. 
211 
ounces; water, ten fluid ounces; mix and heat all tlie ingre- 
dients on a slow fire till the sugar is dissolved and the liquid 
assumes the consistence of a thick syrup. (Moodeen Sheriff.) 
218. Impcitiens Balsamina, Linn, h.f.b.i., 
i. 453. 
Vern : — Gul-mendi (H) ; Dupati (B) ; Haragaura (Uriya) ; 
Mujethi (N. W. P.); Bantil, trunl, halu ; tatura ; pallu ; tilphar ; 
juk (Pb.) ; Tevadd (Bomb.)- (Porebunder) Gulmendi ; (Guj) 
Pan tambol ; (Sinhalese) Kudalu-kola. 
Habitat : — Found throughout India. Ceylon 2-4000ft. 
common. 
An annual erect herb 1 -3ft. ; Stem glabrous or pubescent, 
slightly branched, green, pithy, succulent. Leaves alternate, 
obscurely petioled, l|-5in. narrowly lanceolate or linear, 
tapering at both ends, especially at base, coarsely spinous- 
serrate, the lowest serratures often filiform and glandular, 
glabrous. Flowers bright pinlc, rather over lin. diam. ; on 
slender pubescent peduncle much shorter than leaf, 1-3 from 
axils of upper leaf. Sepals very small, linear ; tip keeled, 
mucronate’ hairy ; spur 1 in. or more, slender, curved strongly 
pubescent ; standard small, roundish, retuse ; wings very much 
longer, lower lobe very large, bifid, rounded, upper lobe much 
smaller, obtuse, retuse. Capsule fin., pointed, tomentose. Seeds 
globose, tubercled. It is a rainy-season plant. 
Uses: — “It is not known whether any of the Indian 
Species of Impatiens have attributed to them medicinal pro- 
perties ; I. Noli-me-tangere (a British Species) has .an acrid 
burning taste, and when taken internally, acts as an emetic, 
cathartic and diuretic. It is considered too dangerous, how- 
ever, to be of much use. The United States Dispensatory, after 
having previously discussed the properties of I. fulva, L pallida, 
and I. Noli-me-tangere, states that I. Balsamina resembles the 
other species in its effects. Baillon says of I. Noli-me-tangere 
that it was formerly valued as a diuretic and anti-haemorrhoi- 
dal. It was topically used for pains in the joints and was said 
