Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/187

Rh

Syn. :— C. acuminata, Roxb.]] 424, Clarke's Ed,

Vern.:—Wâgeti or Govindphal (Concan). Kalokera (B.) Authoondy kai (Tam.).

Habitat:—Common in the Carnatic and Malabar; occasional in the Western Deccan.

A rigid wiry, much-branched shrub, glabrous, armed; shoots sometimes puberulous. Leaves broad, ovate to lanceolate, usually acute and mucronate, reticulate beneath; ½-1½ in. coriaceous, shining above, sometimes pubescent beneath (H.f. and Th.). Brandis says: — " Leaves ovate-lanceolate, pale beneath, 1¼-4 in.; secondary and reticulate tertiary nerves prominent." Flowers 2 in. diam., solitary, axillary or 2-3 on a short shoot; sepals 4, free, mostly imbricate in bud. Petals 4; 2 lower petals yellowish, changing to red-brown; pedicels 1-2 in., slender. Brandis says the petals are white, with a basal blotch of yellow which turns purple. Trimen says the flowers are white; the 2 upper petals, usually with a basal blotch of yellow, afterwards purple; anthers pale blue. Stamens numerous, inserted on a small disc. Filaments longer than the petals. Ovary oblong, pubescent, on a slender gynophore. Fruit 2 in., ovoid, smooth; bright scarlet when ripe, fleshy; orange-pink when ripe, says Trimen. Seeds many, embedded in pulp, colytedons convolute.

Uses : — The root is reported to be a cooling medicine in the Concan (Dymock). The green fruit is sliced, dried, cooked and eaten in Ceylon, says Trimen. The people of Bombay do the same.

Vern. :— Chayrukha (H.).

Habitat : — From South Concan and Canara to Travancore,

An erect, much-branched evergreen shrub, with minute straight stipulary thorns. Young parts red, floccose. Leaves ovate, lanceolate, acute coriaceous dark green, shining above, reddish, strongly ribbed and veined beneath. Blade 3-6 in. by