1186 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.
The light rings occasionally anastomose. Pores moderate-sized to large, scanty, irregularly distributed. Medullary rays moderately broad, light coloured, rather short, not numerous. (Gamble). Leaves thinly coriaceous (broad, rhomboid, says Gamble), often very unequal-sided, angular and with intra-marginal veins, the lowest pair of the base usually running near the edge, intermediate and tertiary distinct. Petiole ⅓-½in. ; stipules ⅓-½in., ovate-lanceolate, convolute. Male sepals 4-6, linear, fleshy, hairy; stamens 1, filament short, united by its base to an abortive (insect attached) pistil. Gall flowers perianth of the male ; ovary globose, smooth ; style short, lateral. Female sepals 4, hyaline, linear, slightly hairy ; achene slightly papillose, obliquely ovoid. Style lateral, elongate. Receptacles minutely hairy, ¼-½in. diam., peduncle up to ⅓in. long, bracts at base of the peduncles. Fruit yellow when ripe. A variable species.
Uses : — The decoction of the root acts as a powerful aperient. The root-bark is stomachic and gently aperient. The leaves are used to polish ivory and given to cattle, being supposed to increase the flow of milk.
1176. F. bengalensis, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 499.
Syn. : — Ficus indica, Linn., Roxb. 639.
Sans. : — Vata.
Vern: — Bor, ber, bargad (H.) ; Bot (B. and Ass.) ; Boi (Kol.) ; Boru (Ur.) ; Bare (Santal) ; Ranket (Garo) ; Borhar (Nep.) ; Kangji (Lep.) ; Bor, bohr (Pb.) ; Baagat, bar (Pushtu) ; Phagwari (Hazara) ; Wur, bur (Sind) ; War, vada (Mar.) ; Ala (Tam.) ; Mari, peddi mari (Tel.) ; Ahlada, (Kan.), Peralu, peralin (Mal).
Habitat : — Planted in all the plains of India ; wild only in the Sub- Himalayan forests and on the lower slopes of the Deccan Hills.
A large or very large tree, branches spreading, sending down to the ground numerous aerial roots which afterwards become trunks. Bark ½in. thick, greyish-white, smooth, exfoliating in
