N. 0. SAPINDACE.®. 
361 
ritha (Dec.) ; Ponnauga, ponuu-kottai, pureandi, puvanti (Tam.) ; 
Kunkudu cliettu, kukudfi, koukudu, kukudu-kovalu, kukudu- 
Kayaln, Neykkoddafi, Pannalaw (Tel.) ; Autala, artala, thalog 
moratlm, kukate-kayi, kugate, auta wala, puvella, punerai gaspe- 
ncla, Penela (Sing.). 
Eng . : — The Soap-nut Tree. 
Habitat : — Common about tho villages in South India and 
cultivated in Bengal, Ceylon, Bombay. Baroda city, in the 
Lakshmi Vilas Palace gardens. 
A large tree. Bark shining, grey, with rough, deciduous 
scales. Wood yellow, hard. Leaves 5-12 in. (usually) ; normally 
abruptly pinnate. Leaflets 2-3 pair, elliptic, generally obtuse 
and somewhat emarginate, at times acute, those of the 
terminal pair longest, 3-7in., glabrous or especially beneath, 
pubescent, with short curved or stellate hairs ; base obtuse, 
petioles short. Inflorescence rusty-pubscent, in terminal panicles. 
Calyx rusty pubescent. Flowers in. long, white, hairy, 
greenish-white (Trimen). Sepals 5 elliptic, obtuse. Petals 4-5, 
narrower, oblong or lanceolate without scales, or with two 
tufts of white hair (Brandis ; “ scale of the petals membranous, 
pilose, ciliate,” says Hiern. Disk concave, edge fleshy, hirsute. 
Stamens 8, anthers oblong, spiculate. Ovary hairy densely 
rusty, tomentose. Fruit 2-3-lobed fleshy. Drupes slightly unit- 
ed, in. long, at length glaucescent, saponaceous. There are 
two forms of this tree usually regarded as distinct species, 
corresponding to Valil’s names, one wit!) acuminate, glabrous 
leaves, the other with emarginate leaves, pubescent beneath. 
Part used : — The fruit. 
Uses : — The fruit is described in the Makbzan-ul-Adwiya, 
as hot, dry, tonic and alexipbarmic. Four grains in wine 
or sherbet cure colic ; one miskal rubbed in water until it 
soaps, and then strained, may be given to people Who have 
been bitten by venomous reptiles, and to those suffering from 
diarrhoea or cholera Three or four grains may be given by 
the nose in all kinds of fits producing insensibility. Fumiga- 
tions with it are useful in hysteria and melancholia. Externally, 
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