Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/204

124 the precipitate was filtered off, washed with alcohol and dried in vacuo over sulphuric acid. The yield was two per cent, of the weight of the seeds. (J. S. Ch. I 31-5-1905, pp. 55—8).

Vern. :— Kowti (called) in Rajapur, Ratanagiri District, whence the purest oil of seed, can be procured, Kadu-Kavata (Bomb.); Kosto (Goa); Maravettie (Tam.); Morotti, (Mal.); Jangli badam (seeds); Jangli badam ka tel (oil) (Dec.): Niradivittalu (seeds); niradi-vittulu-nune (oil) (Tel.) Habitat: — Western Peninsula, from the S. Concan along the Coast range.

A tall tree. Wood whitish. Twigs usually brown, pubescent (rarely glabrate), as are the recemes. Leaves 4-9 by 1½-4 in., coriaceous or membranous, sometimes deeply obtusely serrate or toothed, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, long, acuminate, base round, acute or subcordate. Petiole ¼-½ in. Flowers 1 in. diam., solitary or racemed. white, pentandrous. Sepals green, pubescent, 3 inner ones longer. Petals ciliate, twice as long as the ovate, fimbriate scales. Stamens villous at base, equalling the petals. Female flowers with imperfect stamens. Ovary densely pubescent. Fruit a berry, 2-4 in., of the size of a small orange, with a hard rind, many-seeded, tomentose. Seeds obtusely angular, embedded in pulp, testa crustaceous, striate. Albumen oily; colyledons very broad, flat. Parts used : — The seeds. Use : — The seeds have long been used as a domestic remedy upon the Western Coast, in certain obstinate skin diseases, ophthalmia, and a dressing for wounds and ulcers. The oil expressed from them is used in scabby eruptions mixed with an equal portion of Jatropha curcas oil, sulphur, camphor and lime-juice. For scald head, equal parts of the oil and lime water are used as a liniment. The oil has been recommended as a substitute for Chaulmogra. and is being used in the Bombay Presidency, with satisfactory results. In the Konkan also, the oil has a reputation as a remedy for Barsati in horses.