Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/408

328 Mâlakâkani, Malkân kanino Velo ; (Marathi) Pengi, Mâlkângoni, Kangooi; (Hindi) Malkangni, Mâlkangi. (Sinhalese) Duhudu.

A large, climbing shrub. Bark usually yellow, corky, sometimes fibrous, spirally twisted and smooth. Wood porous, soft, very variable, according to locality and climate.

Young shoots marked with lenticels (Kanjilal). Leaves alternate, very variable in size and shape ; generally 2-4 by 1½-3in., obovate, orbicular, elliptic or oblong lanceolate, short- acuminate, more or less coriaceous, glabrous ; base acute, lateral nerves 4-6 pair, parallel to margins. Petiole ¼-⅜in. long. Flowers ½in., pale or yellowish green in terminal pedulous pyramidal panicles, 2-4in. long. Pedicels slender, puberulous. Calyx-lobes shallow, unequal, rounded toothed. Petals oblong, broad-based, acute. Disk inconspicuous. Anthers large, about the size of the petals Ovary free, stigma simple. Capsule ½in. broadly ovoid or roundish, blunt, transparently wrinkled, bright yellow ; valves septifragai above, leaving the seeds exposed. Seed ⅓in., cinnamon-brown, striate, completely enveloped in scarlet fleshy aril.

Tropical and sub-tropical Himalaya. Throughout India, Burma, Ceylon. »

Parts used — The seeds, leaves and oil.

Use : — The seeds are thought by the natives to be hot and dry, aphrodisiac and stimulant, useful both as an external and internal remedy in rheumatism, gout, paralysis, leprosy, and other disorders which are supposed to be caused by cold humours. The crushed seeds, combined with aromatics, are said to be very efficient in removing local pains of a rheumatic or malarious nature.

In the Concan, 4 tolas of the leaf-juice are given as an antidote in overdoses of opium, and the seeds, made into a paste, with cow's urine, are applied to cure scabies (Dymock).

In Ajmere, the seeds are considered sudorific (Irvine).

By a rude form of distillation, the Natives obtain from them a black empyreumatic oil, which, under the name of " Oleum nigrum" was brought forward by the late Dr. Herklots