Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/318

238 Habitat: — Throughout the hotter parts of India, ascending to 6000ft. in the Himalayas ; Lower country, Ceylon.

An annual, rarely perennial herb. Stem simple long or short, slender or robust, hispidly pubescent. Leaves 1½-5in. ; petiole hispidulous or merely ciliate ; leaflets very variable in size ¼-½ in., sometimes arched a little upwards, 6-15 pair, oblong, nearly straight, nerves few or many, rather oblique, often waved. Peduncles very variable. ½-5in., hispid, sometimes swollen at the tip : bracts rigid, setaceous, pedicels usually shorter than the sepals, sometimes equalling them or a little longer. Sepals usually much exceeding the capsule, rigid, sub- lanceolate, grooved, glandular and hispid. Petals usually twice as long as the sepals. Capsule elliptic, shining, cells few- seeded. Seeds with obliquely transverse, acute or obtuse tubercled ridges, very variable.

Flowers throughout the year. Petals golden-yellow with red veins.

Uses. — The seeds are powdered and applied to wounds, and with butter to abscesses to promote suppuration ; the root in decoction is given in gonorrhœa and lithiasis (Rheede).

J. Tndraji on the authority of Vaidya Rugnathji says that the leaves act as a diuretic when given internally rubbed with water. They allay thirst in bilious fevers. Dose - a tola (Virji Jhinâ).

Sans : — Karma ranga.

Vern : — Karmal, Khamrak Kámarángá (H) ; Kámarángá, Kamarak (B) ; Kardai (Ass) ; Tamarak, Kamarakha (Guj); Kamaraka (Mar) ; Khamaraka, karamara (Bom) ; Khamrak (Deck); Tamarata, tamarttamkáy (Tam) ; Karomonga, tamartakáya (Tel) ; Tamarat-tuka (Mal) ; Kamarak (Ran).

Eng : — Gooseberry tree or Chinese Gooseberry (Balfour).

Habitat : — Cultivated in gardens throughout the hotter parts of India as far north as Lahore. Common in Cylon gardens introduced from the New World by the Portuguese, says Trimen.