1108 
INDIAN MKDICIN'AI. PI. ANTS. 
I'crn. : — Amarbeli (H.) ; Akasbel ( B.) ; Alagjavi (Santal) ; 
Akaslvel, Amarvella (Mar.); Kotan (l)tik.); Cottan (Tam); 
Paunch figa (Tel.) ; Acatsjabulli (Mal.i. 
Habitat : — From Banda to Bengal, and Chittagong and 
southwards to Travancore. 
A filiform, twining, parasite, adhering to the host by suckers, 
quite glabrous ; young parts puberulous. Stems slender. 
Branches numerous, forming a web of leafless cords over bushes. 
Spikes l-2\u. Bracts rounded, ciliate. Perianth twice the 
length of the rounded, ciliate bracteoles. Perianth segments, 
outer sepals small, rounded ciliate ; inner much longer, oblong 
or ovate. Fruit glabrous, globose, succulent, smooth (not ribbed , 
the size of a pea, frowned with perianth-lobes. 
Uses : — Sanskrit writers describe it as a tonic and alterative, 
and regard it as possessing the power of increasing the secre- 
tion of semen. (U. C. Dutt.) 
The drug consists of the slender thread-like stems of the 
plant. It has a mucilaginous taste, but no odour. It is em- 
ployed in Mauritius in the form of decoction for intestimal 
derangement and as a tonic for scrofulous and rachitic infants. 
This is another eastern remedy whose use extends to Mada- 
gascar. In India, the powdered plant mixed with sesamum oil 
is used to strengthen the hair, and by the Brahmins for cleans- 
ing inveterate ulcers, for which purpose it is mixed with butter 
and ginger. The juice mixed with sugar is considered a 
specific in inflamed eyes. (Treas. Bot.., p 234.) Its properties 
are probably due to a mucilage. (Ph. 1. 12. 8. 82, p. 122.) 
Client, comp. — M. GresholT lias detected an alkaloid in this plant, having 
the following colour reactions : sulphuric acid faint red, Eardmann’s reagent 
(sulphuric acid mixed with a little nitric acid) blue, nitric acid red-brown, 
Erohde’s reagent dirty blue. Dr. Greshoff believes that on a closer invest- 
igation of this alkaloid, it will be found to be identical with laurototanine 
described under Litsrea sebifera. (Pharmacog. Ind. III. 210.) 
N. 0. THYMELACCEyE. 
1097. Daphne o/eoicles, Schreh., ii.f.b.i., v. 193. 
Syn. : — P. mucromita, Hoyle. 
