N. 0. AllAItANtACE.®. ' 
1057 
1033 . C. Cristata, Linn:, h.f.b.i., iv. 715 ; 
Roxb. 228 . 
Sans. : — Mayura Sikha. 
Vern. : — Kokan, pila-murghka, lal-murghka (H.) ; Mawal, taji 
khoros, bostan afraz, kanju, dhura-dra (Pb.) ; Lil-murga, 
huldi-murga (B.) ; Erra-kodi-utta-tota-kuru ; Kodi-juttu-.,ota- 
kura (Tel.). 
Habitat : — Throughout India, cultivated, and as an escape. 
An annual erect glabrous herb. Stem tall, branching. 
Leaves ovate lanceolate, sometimes 9in. long and 3in. broad, 
sometimes varying from linea to ovate, acute or acuminate ; 
spikes cylindric, very stout. Flowers densely imbricate i-£in. 
Style filiform, lengthening after fruiting. Utricle acute ; dehis- 
cence circumciss. 
Uses : — The flowers are considered astringe nt, they are used 
in cases of diarrhoea, and in excessive menstrual discharges 
(Stewart.) The seeds are demulcent aud useful in painful mic- 
turition, cough and dysentery. (U. C. Dutt.) 
The seeds of 0. cristata, Linn, afford a greenish-brown, drying oil, with 
an iodine value of 120'3. The insoluable fatty acids melt between 27° and 29°. 
Regarding the genus Amarantus, Sir George Watt, in his 
Comml. Prod, of India, p. 62, writes — 
u There may bo said to be two or perhaps three distinct groups of ama- 
ranths that are of economic value to the people of India. These are the species 
cultivated in gardens and mainly, if not exclusively, as Pot-herbs : second, the 
wild species that are eaten as pot-herbs or Medicines : and third, the forms 
cultivated in fields and exclusively so as edible Grains. The last mentioned 
are by far the most valuable and hence may be taken up in greater detail 
than the othors. But in passing it may be observed that the Indian species 
of this genus seem to be sadly wanting careful study and revision.” 
1034 . Amarantus spinosns, Linn., h. f. b. i., iv. 
718 . 
Sans. : — Tanduliya. 
13S 
