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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Sans.: — Kusumblia, kamalottarn, kushumbha. 
Vern.: — Kusnrn, kasumba, kar (the seed), barre (Hind); 
Kusum, kusam pliul, kajirab, darlma (the oil), kuthi (thorny), 
murdi or mundo (thornless variety) (Beng.) ; Galap machu, (Ma- 
nipur) ; Kfisam, kurtam, kushumbha, ma, sufir, karar (khar, 
polian = seed), (Pb.) ; Barre, kar, (United Prov.) ; (Bundi, Raj); 
Kusumba, kurdai, (Bomb.) ; Kusumbo (kabri— the seed), (Guj.) ; 
Kurdi, kavarhi, kasdi, sadhi (oil plant), kardai, (Mar.) ; Kusumba, 
(Cutch) ; Powari-jo-bij, kardai, kurtum (seed), khoinbo (the plant), 
(Sind) ; Khardi, (oil), kasar (thorny), kusum (smooth variety), 
(C. P.) ; Karad, (Dec.) ; Sendurgam, kushumba, lcushumba- 
virai, sendurkun, (Tam) ; Agnisikha, kusliumba-vittu-lu, (Tel) ; 
Kusanbe (or kusambi), kusumba, (Kan). 
Eng . : — The Safflower. 
Habitat: — Cultivated throughout India. 
Thistle-like herbs, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves entire 
and unarmed, or spinulose serrate. Outer Involucre-bracts 
ovate-oblong, constricted above the base green-spinous, or not. 
Inner Involucre-bracts ovate-oblong, acute. Flowers orange-red. 
Achenes (often deformed) obovoid, 4-angled, truncate at the 
top, with 4 bosses ; pappus absent. 
Parts used : — The seed, oil and flowers. 
Uses : —The Sanskrit writers describe the seeds as purgative, 
and mention a medicated oil, which is prepared from the plant for 
external application in rheumatism and paralysis. Mahomedan 
writers consider the seeds as laxative, having the power to re- 
move phlegmatic and adust humors from the system. (Dyrnock). 
“ The powdered seeds made into a poultice, are used to 
allay inflammation of the womb after childbirth. The oil is 
used as a liniment in rheumatism ” (Surg.-Maj. Calthrop). 
The oil is used as a dressing for bad ulcers (Ainslie). 
In the Punjab seeds considered to be diuretic and tonic 
(Stewart). 
“In large doses, Carthamus is said to be a laxative ; and, 
administered in warm infusion, diaphoretic. It is used as a 
substitute for saffron in measles, scarlatina, and other exanthe- 
matous diseases to promote the eruption” (U. S. Dispensary). 
