Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/321

Rh ounces ; water, ten fluid ounces ; mix and heat all the ingredients on a slow fire till the sugar is dissolved and the liquid assumes the consistence of a thick syrup. (MOODEEN SHERIFF.)

Vern : — Gul-mendi (H) ; Dupati (B) ; Haragaura (Uriya) ; Mujethi (N. W. P.); Bantil, trual, halu ; tatura ; pallu ; tilphar ; juk (Pb.) ; Teradd (Bomb.)- (Porebunder) Gulmendi ; (Guj) Pan tambol ; (Sinhalese) Kudalu-kola.

Habitat :— Found throughout India. Ceylon 2-4000ft. common.

An annual erect herb l-3ft. ; Stem glabrous or pubescent, slightly branched, green, pithy, succulent. Leaves alternate, obscurely petioled, 1½-5in. narrowly lanceolate or linear, tapering at both ends, especially at base, coarsely spinous- serrate, the lowest serratures often filiform and glandular, glabrous. Flowers bright pink, rather over 1in. diam. ; on slender pubescent peduncle much shorter than leaf, 1-3 from axils of upper leaf. Sepals very small, linear ; tip keeled, mucronate, hairy ; spur 1 in. or more, slender, curved strongly pubescent ; standard small, roundish, retuse ; wings very much longer, lower lobe very large, bifid, rounded, upper lobe much smaller, obtuse, retuse. Capsule ¾in., pointed, tomentose. Seeds globose, tubercled. It is a rainy-season plant.

Uses : — " It is not known whether any of the Indian Species of Impatiens have attributed to them medicinal properties ; I. Noli-me-tangere (a British Species) has an acrid burning taste, and when taken internally, acts as an emetic, cathartic and diuretic. It is considered too dangerous, however, to be of much use. The United States Dispensatory, after having previously discussed the properties of I. fulva, I. pallida, and I. Noli-me-tangere, states that I. Balsamina resembles the other species in its effects. Baillon says of I. Noli-me-tangere that it was formerly valued as a diuretic and anti-hæmorrhoidal. It was topically used for pains in the joints and was said