Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/430

350 repand-dentate, more or less pubescent on both sides, especially beneath. Flowers white, bi-sexual, on short pubescent pedicels. Cyme corymbose, shortly pedunculate, dichotomous, lax, spreading, axillary, shorter or longer than petiole. Calyx very shallow, segments usually 4 (rarely 5) ; hooked and slightly coherent at top, pubescent outside, soon falling. Berry ½ in, depressed, globose, cream-coloured, 2-4-seeded. Seed semi-globose, smooth.

Use : — Sometimes used as a substitute for, or adulterant of, V. setosa.

This plant is used as a domestic medicine, because of its astringency (DYMOCK). ((rule|6em}}

Sans. : — Samoodraka.

Vern. — Dhol-shumoodra (B.) ; Dindâ (Bomb.) ; Samudraca (H.) ; Hatkan ( Santal) ; Dinda (Mar.).

Habitat :— Throughout the hotter parts of India, from the tropical Himalaya, as far west as Kumaon, to Bengal, Assam, and the Western Peninsula.

Stems erect, flexuose. Leaves simple, 9in., 2-fid, broadly ovate, sub-cordate at base, coarsely serrate or dentate or sub-lobed, repand, glabrous and dark green above, nearly white beneath, and pubescent, with minute-branching hairs. Cymes puberulous, 1-ft. or more, freely-branching. Flowers white, small. Fruit the size of a small cherry, smooth, black, succulent.

Part used : — The root.

Uses : — The tuberous root is employed in the cure of guinea-worm, and when pounded is applied to obstinate sores to promote cicatrization. According to Roxburgh, the root is astringent and a reputed remedy for ringworm (DYMOCK).

The root is said to yield colour for dyeing.