822 
INDIAN MEDICINAI, PLANTS. 
oblongovate,, cordate at base, with rounded lobes, suddenly acute 
at apex, glabrous above, pubescent on veins beneath, rather 
thick ; venation reticulate, glabrous ; bracts minute. Sepals 
oval, obtuse, glabrous. Follicles (one generally suppressed ?) 
(K. R. K.), 5-Gin., fusiform, oblong, blunt, cylindric, with a deep 
furrow along each side, fleshy (Trimen). 
“ Flowers red-purple and white, subglohose. ” Corolla 
1-lJin. diam., lobes subacute, incurved, white on back and 
margin. 
Uses : — In the Concan, the roots are used as a remedy for 
scalding in gonorrhoea, and, beaten into a paste, are applied to 
the eyes in ophthalmia. In diabetes, the root rubbed to a paste 
is given in cold milk. In spermatorrhoea, the dried root, with 
an equal quantity of the root of Eriodendron anfractuosum, 
powdered, is given in 6 massa doses, with milk and sugar, 
twice daily (Dymock). 
Rheede first drew attention to the medicinal virtues of the 
root, mentioning its value as an application for ophthalmia. 
It is employed in decoction by the Santals, as a remedy for 
cough, and also for orchitis (Revd. A. Campbell). 
778 . iSarcostenimabrevistigma, W. & A. h.f.b.i., 
iv. 26 . 
Syn. : — Asclepias acida, Roxb. 251. 
Vern . : — Somalata (H. and B.)t; Soma (Bomb.); Tigatshu- 
moodoo (Tel.) ; Thorinja} (Sind.) ; Ran slier (Mar.). 
Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula ; not uncommon in dry rocky 
places. 
A trailing, leafless, jointed shrub. Stem as thick as a goose- 
quill, green, joints 4-6in. long. Umbels sessile, terminal, 1-1J 
in. diam., many-fid. Pedicels |in., puberulous. Flowers pale- 
greenish white or whitish. Sepals small, ovate. Corolla -§dn. 
diam., lobes ovate or oblong. Column very short ; corona and 
column together rounded or obtuse ; inner processes of the 
corona almost concealing the anthers. Stigma very shortly 
