Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/172

92 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. Surson, (Sindh); Khakshi (Bomb.); Rantikhi (Mar.); Khakshir (Pers.)

Habitat:—Northern India, from Rajputana to the Punjab.

An annual or biennial, tall, glabrous herb. Stem 1-3 ft., quite glabrous or slightly pubescent at base. Leaves petioled, runcinate, pinnatifkl, segments remote, spreading, toothed not auricled; terminal large* sometimes hastate. Pedicels slender. Flowers yellow, minute. Fruiting pedicels slender, young pods overtopping the raceme. Old 3-nerved. Pods 1J-2 in., slender, erect, glabrous, subtorulose.

Parts used:—The seeds.

Use:—The seed is expectorant and restorative, and used externally as a stimulating poultice (Dymock.)

It is also said to be a febrifuge (Stewart).

79. Brassica nigra, Koch. 156.

Syn.:—Sinapis erysimoides, Roxb. 499.

Sans.:—Sarshap.

Vern.:—Rai, Kali rai, tira, taramira, lahi, banarsirai, jag-rai, asl-rai, ghor-rai, makra-rai (H) ; Rai-Saron, (Bom).; Kadagho (Tarn); Avalo (Tel.); Bile Sasive, Karisasive, sasive, (Kan).; Ahor, Suraj, Kali-surson (Sindh); Kali Sarson (Kumaon).

Habitat:—Cultivated in various parts of India.

An annual, 2-3 ft. high, rigid, branched, more or less hispid. Leaves 4-8 in., petioled ; lower lyrate, upper entire. Racemes naked. Flowers - in. diarn., bright yellow. Sepals spreading. Pods - in., subulate ; valves keeled, torulose ; cells 3-5-seeded. Seeds oblong.

Parts used:—The seeds.

Uses:—The seeds of this plant are used in medicine as poultice, being a useful and simple rubefacient and vesicant. Mustard poultices prove highly serviceable in cases of febrile and inflammatory diseases, internal congestions, spasmodic, neuralgic, and rheumatic affections. Mustard flour in water is highly recommended as a speedy and safe emetic.