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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


longer pedicels, marked with scar of small caducous bracts. Calyx tomentose, campanulate, shortly and broadly 3-lobed. Petals thinly tomentose above. Ovary glabrate, equalling the stout style. Drupe 1-2in. long, ellipsoid or ovoid, tapering, with a thick, bony stone.

Part used : — Gum.

Uses : — According to Dr. Bidie, the resin is used as a substitute for Burgundy pitch in making plasters. Also employed with gingelly oil in rheumatic pains (Watt ii. 96).

259. C. bengalense, Roxb h.f.b.i., i. 534. Roxb. 504.

Habitat : — Sylhet and the adjoining districts.

Vern. : — Gogul-dhûp (Nepal) ; Narokpa (Lepcha) ; Tekreng (Garo); Bisjang, dhûnâ (Assam).

A tall, ever-green, glabrous tree. Bark ½in. thick, rather smooth, greyish white, with numerous lenticels, peeling off in small round thick flakes. Wood soft, sap wood yellowish white, heartwood reddish brown. Extremities rusty, pubescent, glabrate, with subulate stipules. Leaves l-2ft. Leaflets sub-opposite, 13-21, ovate-oblong or lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, 3-6 by 1-2 in. Panicles racemiform, from upper axils, shorter than or equalling the leaves ; buds cylindrical. Calyx cupuliform, 3-fid. Petals obvate oblong, 3, imbricate ; filaments confluent, half their length. Disk hirsute, within the stamens. Drupe ellipsoidal, smooth, size of a large olive, 1-3 — celled, dark purple, pruinose. Stone trigonous, thick, bony. Cotyledons contortoplicate. A clear, amberlike resin exudes from wound in the bark.

Use :--The leaves and bark are used externally for rheumatic swellings (Watt ii. 94).


N. 0. MELIACEÆ.

260. Turrœa villosa, Benn. h.f.b.l, i. 542.

Vern : — Kâpur-bhendi (Bom.).

Habitat : — Western Peninsula ; on the Anamally and Mahableshwar hills ; Guzerat at Dolca.