888 . 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
It is used as a tonic and believed to possess expectorant 
properties (S. Arjun). 
Chemical composition. -The plant contains an alkaloid soluble in ether, 
which fails to afford any special colour reactions ; its solution is not precipi- 
tated by chromates. It is not bitter. There is nothing else in the plant of 
special interest. 
852. Cuscuta reflexa, Roxb. h.f.b.i., iv. 225 ; 
Roxb. 150. 
Sans. : — Amaravela. 
Vern.’. — Haldi-algusi-lata. Algusi (B.); Alagjari (Santal.) ; 
Nilathari, viradhar, amil, zarbuti (Pb.) ; Bazar names of the 
seed: — A’kasbel, aftimun, kasus (H. and Pb.) ; Akaspawan, 
Amarwel (Dec.) ; Akaswel (Guz.); Ninnuli Akashwel (Mar.) ; 
Sitama purgonalu ; Sitamma pogu nulu (Tel.). 
Habitat : — Common throughout India ; abundant in Bengal 
Plains. 
A leafless, twining parasite, with stout fleshy branches 
forming dense yellow masses on law and tall trees and shrubs, 
with greenish white waxy or yellow fragrant, flowers shortly 
stalked crowded in numerous clusters or racemes, 5-merous. 
Recemes l-4in. long. Pedicels O-Ru., often verrucose. Bracts 
a^in. Sepals i l 0 in., nearly distinct, ovate. Corolla campanuate, 
ldeciduous by |in., subcylindric, lobes short, triangular, 
reflexed ; scales remote from the filaments, prominent, emarginate, 
fimbriate. Stigmas 2, long, acute, wide apart, lanceolate. Styles 
very stout. Capsule i-^in , fleshy, acute when unripe, circumciss 
near the base when mature, subquadrate obtuse, tough, fleshy, 
4-seeded. Kanjilal makes the following remarks: — “The leaf- 
less character is carried even to the embryo which is destitute 
of cotyledons. The seed germinates on the ground, but the 
plant does not seem to derive much nourishment from it, its 
growth being sustained, for the little while it is obliged to 
shift for itself, by the fleshy albumen in which the germ-plant _ 
is imbedded in the seed. As soon as the seedling twines itself 
round a woody plant, it developes several thick sucker-like haus- 
toria along the surface of contact, which, penetrating the bark of 
