N. O. SOLANAOE/E. 
913 
871. D. fastuosa, Linn, h.f.b.i., iv. 242 ; Roxb. 
188. 
Vern. : — K&1& dhaturd (Beng., Dec-, and Hind.) ; Jouz- 
masleasvad (Arab.); Taturahe-siy&h (Pers.); Karu-umate (Tam.); 
Nalla-ummetta (Tel.) ; Pad-daing-phu, padayinkhdtta (Burin.)- 
Habitat :— A weed throughout India, in waste places. 
An annual herb. Stem l-2ft. high, stout, somewhat zigzag, 
rather succulent, polished and shining,- but slightly rough, with 
very minute scattered hairs, divaricately branched, marked 
with scars of fallen leaves. Leaves alternate, 3-6in., triangular 
ovate* rounded and generally very unequal-sided at base, acute, 
entire or more often with a few large coarse acute teeth or lobes, 
apparently glabrous, but with a very minute mealy pubescence 
on both sides, dull glaucous-green above, paler beneath, veins 
pellucid. Petiole I-2in. Flower white or rarely purple, very 
large, on very short stout stalk from the node, but notaxillary 
erect. Calyx 3in., very minutely adpressed, pubescent, seg- 
ments Jin., triangular, acuminate acute. Corolla-tube over 7in., 
gradually widening upwards, limb 4in. diam., lobes with the 
plait or midrib terminating in a short, linear, acute tail, pube- 
scent on back. Stamens about as long as Corolla-tube, anthers 
nearly fin. Ovary papillose, style over bin. Capsule nod- 
ding, on curved pedicel, 1 Jin., supported base on reflexed base 
of Calyx, fleshy green, covered with numerous, scattered, short, 
straight, sharp prickles. Seeds very numerous, closely packed, 
nearly smooth, pale brown (Trimen). 
Uses — The seeds constitute a favourite poison for criminal 
purposes. The seeds and their preparations are generally 
employed by the Indian road poisoners not for the purpose 
of destroying life, but for stupefying their victims with the 
view of committing theft. Death may follow as a consequence 
of oveir-dose (Kanai Lai De). (See Che vers’ Jurisprudence). 
They are also used to render liquor more intoxicating, being 
burned upon charcoal with vessels inverted to catch the smoke. 
The seeds are also used in the form of a powder for the same 
purpose, being more powerful in this form. When full of 
smoke the liquor is thrown into the vessel and the mouth 
US 
