N. O. JSUPHORBIAOEiE. 
1161 
Habitat : — A small annual shrub occurring as a weed in 
gardens and road-sides throughout India. 
A pubescent, herbaceous, erect annual, l-3ft. Branches 
numerous, long, ascending, angular, finely pubescent. Leaves 
l£-3in., rhomboid-ovate, tapering at base, acute, seriate, 
glabrous, thin, somewhat 3-nerved at base, pale-green. Petiole 
usually longer than leaves, slender, spreading. Stipules minute. 
Flowers sessile, green, in numerous lax, erect, axillary spikes ; 
males very small, clustered near summit. Stamens 8; females 
solitary, scattered, each with a large, leafy, truncate, dentate 
bract. Ovary hispid. Capsule small, quite concealed by 
enlarged bract, often- only 1-seeded. Seed ovoid, acute, smooth. 
A common weed flowering all the year round. 
Uses : — There is no mention of this plant in Sanscrit works 
on Medicine. It is used as expectorant as a substitute for 
senega. It lias also a diuretic action. It is a useful remedy 
for bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia ; also for rheumatism. 
It was formerly employed as a purgative and anthelmintic. 
“ The roots, leaves, and tender shoots are all used in medicine 
by the Hindus. The powder of the dry leaves is given to 
children in worm cases, also a decoction prepared from the 
leaves with the addition of a little garlic. The juice of the 
same part of the plant, together with that of the tender shoots, 
is occasionally mixed with a small portion of margosa oil, 
and rubbed on the tongues of infants for the purpose of 
sickening them and clearing their stomachs of viscid phlegm. 
The hakims prescribe the koopamaynee in consumption.” 
(Ainslie, Mat. Ind. II., 161.) “ The leaves with garlic areregard- 
ed as anthelmintic ; mixed with common salt the leaves are 
applied externally in scabies, and the juice rubbed up with oil 
is used externally in rheumatism.” (Balf. Cycl.) According 
to Rheede, the root is used as a purgative on the Malabar Coast. 
(Hort. Mai., X., 161.) This property “ is confirmed by Dr. H. E. 
Busteed, who has used it as a laxative for children.” A contri- 
butor in Dacca informs me he uses it as a laxative, and in an 
official correspondence with the Government of India, Rai Kanai 
Lai De, Bahadur, includes the muktajhuri amongst emetics. In 
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