Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/427

Rh

Syn. : — Cissus Setosa, Roxb. 137.

Vern. : — Baru-butsali, barre bach-cbali, warsi pala, pulla bach-chali (Tel.) ; Harwal (H.) ; Yek-gisam-ka-bachla (Dec.) ; Khâj goli-cha vel (Mar.); Puli-pêrandai ; puli-naravi ; Anuittad-bêtichal (Tam.)

Habitat :- Western Peninsula, from the Circars and Mysore southwards. Ceylon.

Stems prostrate, weak-branched, succulent, zigzag, striate, hispid, with glandular hairs. Tendrils long, forked. Leaves 3-foliate (rarely simple), sessile. Leaflets shortly stalked, obovate or oblong-cuneate at base, obtuse, irregularly toothed or laciniate, succulent, glabrous above, glandular-hispid on the veins beneath, pale green, the central one narrower and on longer stalk. Stipules broad ovate, acute. Flowers small on long glandular pedicels. Cymes teminating lateral branches, dichotomous, lax, divaricate. Peduncle 1½-4 in. long, glandular-hispid. Calyx loose, truncate. Petals contracted in the middle, hooked, ultimately reflexed. Berry over ¼ in., ovoid, strongly glandular-hisped, scarlet, size of a pea. Seed sub-globose, nearly smooth. The fruit is acid at first to taste, but afterwards very burning and acrid. In fact, every part of the plant is exceedingly acrid, says M. B. Lawson in Hooker's Flora, Br. Ind.

Parts used : — The leaves.

Use : — It is exceedingly acrid. The leaves are sometimes externally applied as a domestic remedy to promote suppuration and assist in the extraction of guinea-worm (DYMOCK).

It is a useful local stimulant, in the form of a poulitice (MOODEEN SHERIFF).

Syn. : — V. Carnosa, Wall. Sans : — Amla-parnî.

Vern. : — Amal-bel, gidad-drâk, kassar (H.) ; Bundal, amallala, sone-kesur (B.) ; Jarila-lara (Paharia) ; Takbli-rik (Lepcha);