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186 The juice of petals is much used in colouring sugar, confectionary pink (K.R.K.) and to ' black ' leather-shoes (Masters).

Parts used : — The flowers, leaves and root.

Use : — The flowers are considered emollient, and an in- fusion of the petals is given as a demulcent.

The flowers fried in ghee (clarified butter) are administered by natives for checking excessive menstruation. The leaves are considered emollient and aperient (Murray, p. 63). The buds are employed in the cure of seminal weakness and cystitis ; the root is valuable in coughs (S. Arjun).

Moodeen Sheriff reports favourably of an infusion of the petals as a demulcent and refrigerant drink in fevers (Ph. Ind).

In Bombay, the roots are dried and sold in the shops as a substitute for Althœa. In the Concan, the fresh root-juice of the wild flower variety is given, in doses of two tolas with milk, sugar and cumin for gonorrhœa, and the root powdered is given with an equal quantity of lotus-root and the bark of Eriodendron anfractuosum, in the same manner, for menorrhagia, the dose of the three being 6 mâssâas each. (Dymock).

Dr. Moodeen Sheriff recommended an oil, made by mixing the juice of fresh petals and olive oil in equal portions, and boiling till all water is evaporated, as a stimulating application for the hair.

Syn. : — Hibiscus populneus, Roxb. 522.

Sans. : — Gardhabhânda, Pârisa, Supârshvaka.

Vern. : — Dumbla (Sundribuns) ; (Hindi) Pâruspipal Gajdand, Pâras pipul (H.) ; Poresh, parash, paresh-pipal (B.) ; Poris, portia, pursa Pursha-maram (Tam.); gangaraya (Tel.); Bendi (Guz.) ; Bhendi, Bhend (Bomb.). (Sinhalese) Suriya, (Tamil) Kavarachu, Puvarachu.