Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/611

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N. 0. SAXIFRAGACE.E. 531

Ovules numerous, on 3-5 parietal placentas. Berry finally bright intensely dark-blue.

Use.:—The shoots and the bark of the roots are made into a decoction and used as a febrifuge by the Nepalese (Watt).

"It appears to have no active effects, unless it be taken in large quantity in the form of decoction. The natives take it in doses large enough to make them sick, and so indirectly to cure the fever."


481. Ribes orientate Poir. h.f.b.l, ii. 410.

Syn.:—R. Villosum, Wall. Roxb.

Vern.:—Nanghe; Phulanch (Chenab); Askûta (Laduk.); Gwáldakh, Kaghak (Kaghan) (N.-W. P.); Yange (Spiti).

Habitat:—Kashmir and Baltistan.

A shrub 6ft. high, polygamo-dioecious, unarmed, sticky, glandular and minutely hairy. Leaves round-reniform, crenate, obscurely 3-5-lobed, 1-l¼in. diam. Bracts 1/5in.. long, linear, often exceeding the pedicels. Racemes erect somewhat dense in flowers, lax and pendant in fruit. Flowers small, greenish. Calyx-tube hardly produced above the fruit. Berries glandular-pubescent, 1/5in. diam; roundish yellow or reddish.

Use:—The berries taken one or two at a time, are considered by the natives an excellent purgative (Aitchison.)


N. 0. CRASSULACEÆ.

482. Bryophyllum calycinum, Salisb. H.F.B.L, ii. 413.

Syn.:—Cotyledon rhizophylla, Roxb. 388.

Vern.:—Kop-pátá (B.); Zakhm-haiyat-ká-pattá (Duk.); Malai- kalli, runá-kalli (Tam.); Sima-jamudu (Tel.); Elamarunna, elamarunga, murikuti (Mal.); Lonua-hadakana-Jidâ (Kan.); Ghaimári, aranmaran, Ahirâvan-Mahirâvan (Bomb.)

Habitat :—Throughout the tropical plains of India, universal in Lower Bengal.

A perennial, succulent, glabrous herb. Stem erect, hollow, l-4 ft. Leaves usually simple, rarely compound, with 3 leaflets, opposite-stalked, fleshy, ovate or oblong, 3-6 in., crenate, obtuse.