538  The  Materia  Medica  of  Ceylon. 
annual,  4-8  inches  high,  branched  from  the  base  ;  branches  divaricate,  winged  ; 
leaves,  linear,  lanceolate  ;  heads  in  winged  peduncles,  when  ripe  dull  purplish, 
with  the  involucral  tracts  almost  pungent.  It  is  a  bitter  and  astringent  tonic. 
It  promotes  digestion,  cures  bleeding  piles  and  destroys  intestinal  worms.  Also 
employed  with  benefit,  it  is  said,  in  diseases  of  the  urinary  organs. 
Evolulus  alsinoides,  Wall.  (Vesnu-kranti)  N.  O.  Convolvulaceae.  This  is 
now  placed  under  Breweria  evolvuloides,  Chois.  A  very  much  branched, 
rough,  small  shrub,  with  a  few  scattered  strigose  hairs.  Leaves,  oblong,  small  ; 
flowers,  small,  axillary  1-3  together,  whitish  or  pinkish  ;  capsule  sub-globular, 
4  valved  ;  seeds,  glabrous.  The  whole  plant  is  employed  as  a  tonic  and  appe- 
tizer ;  it  is  a  pleasant  bitter  and  also  used  in  mild  cases  of  fever. 
Ficus  altissima,  Blume  (Nuga)  N.  O.  Urticacese.  A  large  spreading  tree, 
with  few  aerial  roots,  young  parts  puberulous  ;  leaves  coriaceous,  petioled, 
broadly  ovate-elliptic,  base  rounded,  never  cordate,  3-5  nerved  ;  receptacles 
sessile,  axillary,  in  pairs,  enveloped  when  young,  early  deciduous,  calyptriform 
bracts  ovoid,  smooth,  when  ripe  inch  long  ;  the  3  yellowish  basal  bracts, 
broad,  yellow,  obtuse,  united  at  the  base,  pubescent  or  puberulous.  It  is  used 
as  a  wash  for  ulcers  and  internally  to  check  diarrhoea. 
Gmelina  asiatica,  Linne.  (Demata)  N.  O.  Verbenacese.  A  shrub  spinescent 
or  unarmed  ;  leaves  entire  or  coarsely  lobed,  beneath  glaucescent  from  a  close 
coat  of  minute  glands.  Racemes  terminal.  The  bark  is  employed  in  bilious 
fever  and  in  indigestion  attended  with  pains. 
Hedyotis  avicularia,  L,inne.  (Geta-kola)  N.  O.  Rubiacese.  Herb,  branched  ; 
leaves,  usually  pale  green,  when  dry,  1-3  inches  long  ;  cymes,  axillary,  sessile, 
small,  very  dense  flowered  ;  calyx  teeth  variable.  "Some  Ceylon  specimens 
have  leaves  with  petiole  l/2  inch  long  and  long  caudate  points  as  in  Beddome's 
figure"  (J.  D.  Hooker).  Used  for  cooling  the  bowels  and  in  cutaneous 
diseases. 
Hedyotis  vestita  Br.  (Pita-endu-pala)  N.  O.  Rubiacese.  A  stout  herb,  1-2 
feet  long,  branches  terete  ;  leaves,  2-4  inches  long,  greenish  when  dry  ;  cymes 
inconspicuous  ;  fruit  minute.  It  is  used  in  nervous  diseases  and  intermittent 
fever.   Considered  also  to  be  a  blood  purifier. 
Hemidesmus  indicus,  Br.  (Iramusu)  N.  O.  Asclepiadaceae.  It  is  a  twining 
shrub,  leaves  opposite,  hoary  beneath  and  variable  in  form  ;  corolla,  green 
without,  purple  within  ;  follicle,  4-5  inches.  The  root  is  used  to  purify  the 
blood,  promote  appetite,  cure  skin  diseases  and  syphilis.  It  is  called  native 
sarsaparilla.  It  was  introduced  into  England,  and  the  syrup  like  that  of  sarsa- 
parilla  is  there  used  as  a  flavoring  in  medicine. 
Herpestris  monniera,  H.  B.  &  K.  (Lunuvila)  N.  O.  Scrophulariaceae.  A 
creeping  herb,  quite  glabrous,  rather  succulent ;  branches,  4-10  inches  long. 
The  whole  plant  is  a  mild  purgative  ;  it  is  also  used  as  a  fomentation  for 
erysipelas  and  elephantiasis. 
Hydrocotyle  javanica  Thunb.  (Maha-gotu-kola)  N.  O.  Umbelliferse.  A 
prostrate  herb  rooting  at  the  nodes  ;  fruit  1-10  inch,  much  compressed,  obicu- 
lar,  lateral  primary  ridges  commissural,  intermediate,  faint  or  none,  pericarp, 
hard  and  thin.  This  plant  is  common  in  the  mountains  of  Ceylon.  This,  like 
H.  asiatica  I,.  (Hin-gotu-kola)  is  said  to  be  a  good  tonic,  and  is  given  to  chil- 
dren chiefly  for  bowel  complaints.  It  purifies  the  blood,  checks  slight  dysen- 
tery and  promotes  digestion  ;  it  also  cures  nervousness  and  skin  diseases,  and 
