properties." (Christy's New Commercial Plants, No. 7, p. 50. 1884).
The fruit is employed as a medicine by the Santals, in diarrhœa and dysentery. The root pounded is also prescribed for the same diseases, and powdered in water is applied externally to hasten suppuration, and as a dressing for wounds. The paste dries and forms a hard coating, thus effectually excluding air from the raw surface (Revd. A. Campbell.)
193. Triumfetta rhomboidea, Jacquin, h.f.b.i., i. 395. Roxb., 390 and 391.
Sansk : — Jhinjharitâ (J. Indraji).
Vern. :— Chitki, Chiriyâri (H.) ; Bun-okra (B.}; Aodaiotti (Tam.) Nichârdi (Bomb.). Jhinjudi ; Nichârdi (Marâthi).
Habitat : — Throughout tropical and sub-tropical India, and Ceylon, a very common weed. It grows wild and freely on Matheran Hill.— K. R. Kirtikar.
An annual or perennial herb, 1½-3 ft., slightly branched ; branches pubescent, with simple hairs. Leaves 1-2½ in., variable, the lower more or less deeply 3-fid., the upper ovate-lanceolate, all coarsely and irregulary serrate, simply hairy on both sides ; often tomentose and white beneath. Petiole of lower leaves long, of upper leaves very short. Flowers small, 3/8- in. diam., yellow, on short pedicels, clusters crowded into a spicate inflorescence at end of branches, buds oblong, slightly stellate-pubescent ; petals equalling sepals. Stamens 8-15. Fruit very small, globose, 1/6in., finely tomentose, spines less than ⅛in., glabrous, hooked, cells 3-4.
Parts used : —The fruit, flowers and leaves.
Uses : — The mucilaginous and astringent properties of the leaves and fruits of certain Triumfettas, called Carapixo de Calcada in Brazil, which grow everywhere in that country, especially on the roadside, and in the vicinity of dwellings, render them serviceable in injections for inveterate gonorrhœa.
