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174 10-awned, awns longer than the Calyx, covered with stiff reflexed hairs. Flowers with the other species in the rainy and cool season.

Generally distributed throughout Tropical and Sub-Tropical India. A Tropical weed.

Parts used : — The root, seeds and leaves.

Use : — A decoction of the root with ginger is given by Hindu physicians, in intermittent fever. It is also administered in fever accompanied by shivering fits and strong heat of body. The powder of the root-bark is given with milk and sugar for the relief of frequent micturition and leucorrhœa. In diseases of the nervous system the root is used alone, or in combination with other medicines. (DUTT.)

The seeds are reckoned aphrodisiac, and are administered in gonorhœa. They are also given for colic and tenesmus (Stewart). In the Concan, the leaves, with other cooling leaves are applied in ophthalmia ; the root-juice is used to promote the healing of wounds, and the juice of the whole plant pounded with a little water is given in seer doses for spermatorrhœa (Dymock.)

Syn. : — A. asiaticum, W. &. A. Sida Indica, Linn. Roxb. 518.

Sanskrit — Atibalâ, Kankatika.

Vern. : — Kanghi, kungain, Tootree, Potaree (H.) ; simbul, Peelee-bootee (Pb. and Sind) ; Ati khirati-pala (Pb.) ; Potari, (B.) ; Mini baha (Santatl) ; Petari, madmi, Kanghai chakrabhenda. (Bomb); Petari, Tupkadi, Tubocuty (Goa). Tatti, (Tam);; Uram, Pettaka (Mal); Anona (Sinhalesi) ; Peruntutti, Vaddatuth (Tam.). The seeds, Balbij (Bomb).

Habitat : — Throughout tropical India. Dry Country Ceylon.

A semi-shrubby annual or perennial ; branches very finely downy ; Leaves ¾-1 in., broadly ovate, very cordate at base,