1192 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Medullary rays uniform and equidistant, moderately broad. 
(Gamble). Leaves coriaceous, upper surface shiniug, lower 
minutely tuberculate when dry, long-petiolate, ovate-rotund, 
narrowed upwards and the apex produced into a linear lanceo- 
late tail, edges entire, undulate ; base broad, rounded to 
truncate, sometimes a little narrowed at the union with the 
petiole occasionally emarginate or in young leaves, very cordate, 
from 5 to 7-nerved ; lateral primary nerves about 8 pairs, 
reticulations five, distinct ; length of blade from 4-5 to 7in. of 
which the apical tail forms about a third, breadth 3 to 4-5in. 
petioles from 3-4in.,long, slender. Stipules minute, ovate, acute; 
receptacles in pair, axillary sessile, smooth, depressed, spheroidal, 
when ripe dark-purple, 5in. across, with 3 broad, spreading, 
coriaceous basal bracts. Male flowers very few and only near the 
mouth of some receptacle (absent in many), sessile ; the perianth 
of 3 broadly ovate pieces, anther single, ovate-rotund, its 
filament short. Gall and fertile flowers: — sessile or pediciilate; 
the perianth of 5 lanceolate pieces ; style short, lateral ; stigma 
rounded, the galls much more numerous than the fertile 
females, and many of them without perianth. 
Uses : — The bark is astringent, used in gonorrhoea. It has 
also maturative properties. The fruit is laxative and helps 
digestion. The seeds are said to be cooling and alterative. 
The leaves and young shoots are used as a purgative, and an 
infusion of the bark is given internally in scabies. (Ainslie and 
Wight.) A paste of the powdered bark is used as an absorbent 
in inflammatory swellings. (Dr. Emerson.) According to 
Bartolomeo (Voyage to the East Indies) the dried fruit “ pulverized 
and taken in water for a fortnight, removes asthma and 
produces fruitfulness in women.” Water in which the freshly- 
burnt bark has been steeped is said to cure cases of obstinate 
hiccup. (Dr. Thornton.) In cracked foot the juice is employed. 
(Asst.-Surg. T. N. Ghose.) The powder of the dried bark is 
used in fistula in ano. I have seen a Hakim use it with 
benefit in the following way : he introduced a metallic tube, 
something like a blow pipe, into the fistula, and putting a 
small quantity of the powder into it, blew the same into the 
fistula. (Asst.-Surg. Nobin Ch. Dutt Watt’s Die.) 
