664 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
sometimes prickly on the angles, smooth, shining. Leaves 4in 
a whorl, -f-ljin. ; ovate, cordate at base, tapering to acute apex, 
scabrous above and on the veins beneath, and especially on the 
margin, with small, white, recurved prickles, 5-or 7-veined from 
base, stiff, often convex above, with apex hooked, sometimes 
pubescent beneath. Petiole about twice as long as leaves, usual- 
ly deflexed, tapering, stiff and branchlike, deeply channelled 
above, triangular, with many sharp recurved prickles on the 
angles. Flowers, 5-merous, minute, on short, glabrous pedicels, 
cymes lax, trichotomous, glabrous. Anthers globose. Corolla- 
tube thick, very short, lobes ovate, obtuse. Fruit about |in., 
very didymous, the caa-pels almost distinct, smooth, shining, 
purplish black. The Ceylon plant, says Trimen, has the stem 
almost destitute of prickles. “ A very variable plant. The 
Khasian specimens have usually 3-nerved leaves, not impressed 
above ; in Western Peninsula the nerves are 5-7, and deeply 
impressed.” (Hooker). 
Uses : — In Hindoo medicine, it is chiefly used as a coloring 
agent. It is useful as an astringent in external inflammations, 
ulcers and skin diseases, &c. Chakradatta recommends Madder, 
rubbed with honey, as an application to the brown spots of 
pityriasis versicolor (Dutt). 
The Mahomedans consider the drug to be deobstruent, and 
prescribe it in paralytic affections, jaundice, obstructions in the 
urinary passages and amenorrhcea. They mention the fruit as 
useful in hepatic obstruction, and a paste made from the roots 
\vith honey, as a good application to freckles and other discolora- 
tions of the skin. The whole plant is reputed to be alexipharmic 
(Dymock). 
Ainslie says that an infusion of the root is prescribed by 
the Hakims to women after delivery, to procure copious flow 
of lochia. 
Dr. G. Playfair, in a note appended to his translation of the 
Talif-i-Sharifi (p. 150), states that, if taken to the extent of about 
3 drachms, several times daily, it powerfully affects the nervous 
system, inducing temporary delirium, &c., with evident deter- 
mination to the uterine system (Ph. Ind.). 
