956 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
sharp yellow spine about lin. long in the axil, tapering at 
both ends, sparsely hispid on both sides, spinous ciliate (Trimen). 
Flowers, bright purple-blue, occasionally white ; 8 (in 4 pair', 
at each node. Bracts like the leaves, but smaller ; bractlets 
linear, hyaline below, bristly hairy On back. Sepals 4, shorter 
than bractlets, equal, narrow, but one much broader than the 
rest ; hyaline with long hair outside. Corolla glabrous, lobes 
oblong, truricate. Anther oblong, subequal. Capsule £in., 
shorter than the sepals, linear-oblong, 4-8-seeded. 
Usee : — In Hindu medicine, the leaves are described as 
cooling and useful in jaundice and anasarca. The root is also 
considered cooling, bitter aud tonic, and is used in rheumatism, 
urinary affections and anasarca. The ashes also used as diuretic 
in dropsy (Dutt). The Mahomedan physicians consider the seeds 
as aphrodisiac (Dymock.) 
Dr. Kirkpatrick (Cat. of Mysore Drugs, No. 451) states that 
he frequently employed it in dropsical cases, and that it un- 
doubtedly possesses considerable power as a diuretic. Dr. 
Gibson also bears testimony to its powers as a diuretic ; and it 
is favourably reported on by Dr. M. Ross and Native Surgeon 
Iyaswamy ( Ph . Ind.). 
The seeds are given for gonorrhoea, and with milk and sugar 
in spermatorrhoea. 
When placed in the mouth they immediately become coated 
with a large quantity of extremely tenacious mucilage, which 
adheres to the tongue and palate and is of rather' agreeable 
flavour. The seeds are one of Panehaoija, or " five seeds,” the 
others being those of Celastrus, Fenugreek, Ajwan, and Cumin. 
There are, however, several other sets of five seeds. 
The seeds are glutinous, besides being mucilaginous. They contain 4-92 
per cent, of nitrogen, which is equivalent to 31' 14 per cent, of albuminoids, 
traces of an alkaloid, and 23 per cent, of a yellow fixed oil. The mucilage is 
not affected by ferric chloride, plumbic acetate, or by two volumes of alcohol. 
(Eharmacogr. Ind., Ill 39-40.) 
914. Ruellid prostrata ; Lamk. h.f.b.i., iv. 411 ; 
Roxb. 473. 
Vern. : — Upu-dali (Mai.). 
Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula, extending north to Behar. 
