Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/454

374 dose is about 20 grains, combined with demulcents and aromatics.

Mahomedan writers describe them as hot, dry, and useful in chronic pulmonary affections, especially those of children ; also in dyspeptic vomiting and diarrhœa. They notice their use in fever and want of appetite, and say that they are good external applications in cases of psoriasis (Dymock).

The fruit of this tree is probably the sumak, sold in the Punjab bazars and used to strengthen the digestion (Brandis).

The galls powdered, fried with ghi and a little sugar added, may be given internally with good effect in dysentery (Surgeon-Major Thompsoo, C. I. E., in Watts's Dictionary.)

{{c|{{larger|326. — Mangifera indica, Linn,}} {sc| h.f.b.i., ii.}} 13, Roxb.}}

Sans. : — Amra ; Chuta (the juicy) ; Madhahdúta (messenger of spring).

Vern. : — Amb, âm (H.) ; Am (B.) ; Mânga maram, maa, mangas (Tam,) ; Âmbâ (Dec); Mâkaudamu, mavi (Tel.) ; Ambâ- nujhâda (Guz.) ; Mavina, mâvu, amba (Kan.); Marka (Gond.) ; Uli(Kol); Ul(SantaL).

Eng. : — The Mango.

Habitat : — Throughout tropical India.

A large, evergreen tree. Bark thick, dark grey, nearly black, rough, with numerous small fissures and exfoliating scales. Wood grey, in old trees, sometimes dark brown, with black streaks, and hard ; in younger trees coarse-grained, soft (Gamble). Branches widely spreading. Leaves dark green, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, blade 5-12in., petiole ¾-1½in. ; secondary nerves slightly arching, numerous, alternating with shorter intermediate nerves. Panicles larger, erect, pubescent. Flowers fragrant, nearly sessile, petals twice the length of Calyx-lobes. Anther one, oval, purple, steritle stamens minute, 2-4. Drupe 2-6in. long, yellow when ripe. There are many cultivated varieties all over India,