1210 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
N. 0. MYRICACEE. 
1196. Myrica. Nagi, Thunb., u.f.b.i., v. 5*97. 
Syn : — Myrica sapida, Wall. M. integrifolia, Eoxb. 765. 
Sans. : — Katpliala, kaidaryama. 
Vern. : — Kaiphal (B., H., Sind. Pb. and M.); Ding solir 
(Khasia); Kobusi (Nep.) ; Kari-phal (Gnz.) ; Maru dampattai 
(Tam.) ; Kaidaryamu (Tel.). 
Habitat : — Sub-tropical Himalaya, from the Ravi eastwards. 
The Khasia Mts., Sylhet and southwards to Singapore. 
A small, aromatic, nearly glabrous, evergreen tree. Leaves 
crowded towards ends of branches, lanceolate, 3-5in., acute or 
obtuse, entire, the lower pale or rust-coloured, minutely gland- 
dotted, aromatic. Stalks short, pubescent ; the leaves of the 
young shoots sometimes 5-8in., and toothed. Bark grey, a 
brownish-grey, roughly with deep vertical wrinkles. Wood 
purplish-grey, hard, close-grained, apt to warp. Flowers 
minute, uni-sexual, glandular, the male and female on different 
trees. Male flowers in catkins, i-lin., long, solitary in the leaf 
axils or sessile on common, drooping, axillary stalk, l-3in. long ; 
bracts orbicular, often with 2-3 smaller ones. Perianth none. 
Stamens 3-6, filaments free except at the bases. Female 
flowers in axillary, erect spikes, |-lin. long ; bracts 2-4; perianth 
none ; ovary 1-celled ; style-arms 2, 1 mg, incurved, red. Drupe 
sessile, scaly, ovoid, j-fin., flesh red; stone wrinkled and 
pitted. (Collett.) 
A very commonly cultivated tree in China and Japan, and is much esteemed 
for its sub-acid fruits, which are eaten by natives and Europeans both raw and 
cooked. I can find no difference between it and the M. integrifolia of Roxb.,*« 
Myrica integrifolia is a very common native bush or tree in the mountainous 
parts of Bengal and the eastern peninsula of India, and especially in Silhet, 
where it is called Sophee, and the fruit is eaten both pickled and raw.' 1 
(Booker in Curtis’ Bot. Mag. for Sept. 1, 1868.) 
Uses : — The bark is described by writers on Sanskrit medi- 
cine as heating, stimulant, and useful in diseases supposed to be 
caused by deranged phlegm, such as catarrhal fever, cough, and 
affections of the throat. It enters into the composition of 
numerous formulae for these diseases, in which it is combined 
with other stimulants and alteratives. The powdered bark is 
