hurmul (Sind) ; Vilayati-mhendi, vilayati-isband (Dec) ; Hurmal, purmaro, ispand. (Bomb) ; Harmala, (Mar) ; Ispun, Hurmaro ; (Guz) ; spimai-aravandi, virati, shimai-azha-vanai-virai, (Tam) ; Sima-goronti-vittulu, (Tel) Hurmul or harmal, (Arab) ; Isband, or ispand, (Pers).
Habitat : — N. W. India, from Sindh, the Punjab, and the Kashmir plain to Delhi and Agra ; the Western Deccan.
A glabrous bush. Stem 1-3 ft. high, stout, flexuous, dichotomously and corymbosely much branched and densely foliaged. Leaves 2-3in., green, pinnatifidly cut into linear, very narrow acute spreading lobes. Flowers ½-¾in. diam., solitary in axils of the branches, sessile or pedicelled. Calyxtube very narrow, much exceeding the Corolla, persistent. Sepals 4-5. Petals 4-5, subequal imbricate, elliptic-oblong. Stamens 12-15, inserted at the base of the disk, some antherless ; filaments dilated below ; anthers linear. Ovary globose, deeply 2-3-lobed ; styles basal, twisted, 2-3, keeled above, the keels stigmatose ; ovules many in each cell, inserted in the inner angle. Fruit a globose capsule ½in. diam., and less. Seeds angled, testa spongy, rough ; albumen fleshy ; embryo curved;
Parts used : — The seeds, leaves and root.
Use : — In Native works on Materia Medica, it is described as an alterative and purifying medicine in atrabilis, and also in diseases supposed to arise from cold humors, such as palsy, lumbago, &c. ; it is also said to stimulate the sexual system both in the male and female, increasing the flow of milk and menses in the latter. (DYMOCK.)
In the Punjab, the seeds are considered narcotic and given in fevers and colic. The decoction of the leaves is given for rheumatism, and the powdered root mixed with mustard oil, is applied to the hair to destroy Vermin. (STEWART.)
In Gujrat, it is burnt in the sick-room as an antiseptic and deodorizer when any person surfers from wounds, ulcers, or small-pox. (Ibbetson's Gazeteer of Gujrat: p. 12.)
The Natives of the Punjab use these seeds against weakness of sight and retention of urine. (Honingberger, Vol : II. p. 284).
