Uses : — The fruit is supposed to possess astringent, cooling and stomachic properties ; from it a spirit is distilled and a pleasant sherbet. The leaves are used as an application to pustular eruptions, and the buds are also prescribed by native practitioners. An infusion of the bark is used as a demulcent. (Dr. Stewart).
The Santals use the root-bark for rheumatism (Revd. A. Campbell).
190. G. scabrophylla, Lamk. h.f.b.i, i. 387., Roxb. 430.
Vern. : — Pándhari dháman, khatkhati (Mar.); Darsuk (Kan.).
Habitat: — Tropical Himalaya, Garwhal, Sikkim, Mysore, from Gujrat straight to Behar, Sub-Himalaya tract and outer valley, from the Jumna eastward, Oudh forests, Northern Circars, Assam, Pegu, Upper Burma (Ava), Chittagong ; common in Dun and Saharanpur forests (Kanjilal).
A shrub ; branchlets, underside of leaves and inflorescence clothed with soft, tawny tomentum. Leaves 3-6 by 4 in., often slightly lobed, base 3-5-nerved, secondary nerves not arched, scabrous above, pubescent beneath, roundish ovate, irregularly serrate. Brandis says the leaves are 4-9 in. long, ovate or obovate, tertiary nerves distinct beneath. Petiole ½in. ; peduncles short, 1-4in., axillary ; stipule subulate, Flowers large, 2-3 on each peduncle, ¾ in. Blade of petals white, ovate, larger than often twice the length of the claw.
Cymes umbellate, says Maxovell T. Masters (Hook.) ; pedicels diverging, longer than the peduncles. Bracteoles linear-subulate, deciduous. Flower-buds obovate-oblong, ribbed. Sepals linear-lanceolate, pubescent ; Petals notched, half the length of the sepals, or less. Gynophore glabrous, edge villous, 5, small tufts of hair at base, between petals. Fruit a globose drupe, not lobed, ½-¾ in. diam., rind brown, crustaceous, hairy ; stones 4, 1-2-seecled, in sweet, yellowish viscid pulp.
Parts used : — The leaves and root.
