1250 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Ohrm. Oomp.—A proximate analysis of this curcuma afforded 
Essential oil, resin, &c. 
4'47 
Resins, sugar, &c. 
121 
Gum, organic acids, &c. 
... 10 10 
Starcii 
... 18-75 
Crudo fibre 
... 25-20 
Ash 
7-57 
Moisture 
9-76 
Albuminoids, &c. 
... 22-94 
100 00 
(1‘harmacogr. lnd. IV. 405). 
1236. C. loncja, 
Linn, h.f.b.i., vi. 214 ; 
lioxb. 11. 
Sans. : — Haridra, nisa. 
Vern. : — Haldi (H.) ; Halud (B.) ; Haidar, balja (l’b.) ; Manjal 
(Taru.); Pasupu (Tel.); Mannal, marinalu (Mai.); Arishina 
(Kan.) ; Halede (Mar.); Halada (Guz.). 
Habitat ’Widely cultivated throughout India. 
An annual. Itootstock large, ovoid ; sessile tubers bright- 
yellow inside, thick, cylindric. Leafy tuft 4-5ft., petiole as 
long as the plain green blade, which is 1-1 2 ft. by 4-8irr. broad, 
oblong, narrowed to the base. Peduncle aft. or more, hidden 
by the sheathing petioles. Spikes autumnal 4-Gin. by 2in. 
diam. Flower-bracts pale-green, ovate lgin. Coma-bracts 
tinged with pink. Flowers pale-yellow, as long as the bracts ; 
like those of C. aromatica, Salis, in structure. 
Uses : —Used as a stimulant in native medicine ; externally 
applied in pains and bruises, and internally administered in 
disorders of the blood. Its use as an external applicant in 
bruises, leech bites, &c., is perhaps its most, frequent medicinal 
application. The fresh juice is said to be an anthelmintic. A 
decoction of the rhizomes is applied to relieve catarrh and pu- 
rulent ophthalmia. 
A paste made of the (lowers is used in ringworm and other 
parasitic skin diseases. I )y mock says the Muhammadans use 
turmeric medicinally in the same manner as the Hindus ; they 
also prescribe it in affections of the liver and jaundice on account 
