N. O. S0LANA0E.#. 
907 
obtuse, ovate-lanceolate or oblanceolate, attenuate at base ; petiole 
indistinct, or J-|in. long. Flowers polygamo, dioecious. Flower- 
ing Calyx Jin.; in fruit fin., stellate, nearly leathery, closely 
surrounding the berry. Corolla fin., lurid yellow, stellately 
mealy without. Male flower ; filaments linear, anthers subexsert. 
Ovary ellipsoid, style O.Hermaphrodite flowers -anthers sub- 
sessile, perfect near the base of the Corolla tube. Ovary 
globose ; style linear, stigma level with mouth of the tube. 
Berry and seeds nearly as in W. somnifera. This plant has 
been found in the act of passing from dimorphism to dioecism 
(C. B. Clarke) 
Uses : — The ripe fruits are used as an emetic. The dried 
fruits, sold as Punir-ja-fota in Sind, are employed in dyspepsia 
and flatulent colic, and other intestinal affections. They ar 9 
prescribed in infusion, either alone or conjoined with the leaves 
and twigs of Rhazya striata, D., an excellent bitter tonic. The 
dried fruit is used for coagulating milk in the process of cheese 
manufacture (Ph. Ind.). 
The ripe fruits are supposed to possesg anodyne or sedative 
properties. Honnigberger says that the bitter leaves are given 
as a febrifuge by the Luhanees (Stewart). 
It is alterative, diuretic and believed to be useful in chronic 
"liver complaints (Dymock). 
In Bombay it is usually confounded with the fruit of 
Physalis Alkekengi, Wild., imported from Persia, the Hab-el- 
kcikuaj or Kiknaj of the Arabians, which is described by Ibn 
Sina as an alterative similar to Dulcamara, and especially 
useful in skin diseases. The berries of both plants have a 
reputation as blood purifiers. Recently, from experiments 
made by Sir J. D. Hooker at Kew, it has been ascertained 
that 1 oz. of the fruit of Withania coagulans and 1 quart of 
boiling water make a decoction, one tablespoonful of which 
will coagulate a gallon of warm milk in about half an hour. 
Experiments of a similar nature have been made on the 
Kilkerran Estate, the property of Sir James Fergusson, late 
Governor of Bombay ; four ounces of the fruit were allowed 
to simmer for 12 hours in 1£ pint of water, and half the liquid 
