1096 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
increases the amount of essential oil in the leaf, but also increases the 
proportion of phenols in the essential oil. The nature of the terpene-like 
constituents is still unknown, but will be investigated at the flrst opportunity. 
1082. P. nigrum, Linn., h.f b.i., v. 90; Roxb., 51. 
Vern. : — Golmirch, kali-mircb, babsli, choca mircb, white 
form =saled-mirch (Hind.); Muricha, kala-morich, gol-inorich 
(Beng.) ; Spot (Bbote) ; Martz (Kashmir); Gol-mirch (Pb.) ; 
Darugarin, daurgarm, march (Afg.) ; Gulmirien (Sind); Miri, 
kalamiri, white form = safed-iniri (Bomb.); Kalimircb, mire (Mar.); 
Kalamari, kalo-mirich, miri (Guz.) ; Choca, kali mirchingay, 
Milagu (Tam.) ; Miryala tige, miriyalu (Tel.) ; Menasu, kare 
menasu, molfi-vukodi, mirialu (Kan.) ; Lada, kuru mulaka 
(Malay). 
Habitat : — Native in the forests of the Circars and of Assam 
and Malabar; cultivated in hot damp parts of India. 
A stout climber. Branches trailing and rooting at the 
nodes, terete, quite glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, 5-7 by 2-5in., 
sometimes glaucous beneath, usually broadly ovate, oblong or 
nearly orbicular; base acute, rounded or cordate, equal or 
unequal, nerves stout, alternate, 2-3 pair basal, with another 
pair higher up which run to the tip (J. D. Hooker). Supra- 
basal nerves, says Brandis, usually alternate. “ Basal nerves 
3-5.” Petiole J-l£in , stout. Bracts of female short, cupular, 
wholly adnate, without raised margins. Flowers usually dioecous, 
but often the female bears 2 anthers or the male a pistillode. 
Anthers 2-celled. Fruiting spikes loose, glabrous, variable in 
length and robustness, slightly interrupted, drooping 4-6in. 
long (Brandis). Fruit globose, sessile, red when ripe ; pulp 
thin. 
Uses It is officinal in both Pharmacopeias, and its uses are 
too well known to be mentioned here. 
N. 0. MYRISTICEJS. 
1083. Myristica inalabarica, Lamk., h.f.b.i., v. 
103. 
Vern. : — Kanagi (Kan.); Pindi-kai (seeds), ranajayaphala, 
jangli-jayaphal, Kaiphal (Bomb.). 
