Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/498

418 The leaves are applied in the form of a poultice to hydrocele and rheumatic swellings ; also to promote absorption or suppuration of boils and abscesses (T. N. Mukerji).

In the Punjab, the seeds are applied externally, mixed with flour, for itching of the skin.

In Dacca, the juice of the fresh leaves is given as an anthelmintic (Taylor).

The root, well bruised and made into a paste, is an excellent application for scorpion-stings (N. C. Dutt, in Watt's Dictionary).

Syn. — Æschynomene spinulosa, Roxb. 570.

Vern. — Brihut-chakrand (H.) ; Dhanicha (B.) ; Errajilgna (Tam.) ; Bhuiavali, rânshevari (Mar.).

Habitat. — From the West Himalayas throughout the plains of India.

A soft-wooded, suffruticose, erect, herbaceous annual, reaching several feet high, the branches and leaf-rachis, with small, weak prickles. Leaves abruptly pinnate, reaching ½-1ft. long ; 8-10 times longer than broad ; leaflets glabrous, 20-40 pair, linear, obtuse, mucronate; petioles usually sprinkled with minute cartilaginous points (W. & A.). Racemes axillary, peduncled, erect, lax, often about half the length of the leaves, few-flowered. Flowers pretty large (more than half an inch long), on slender pedicels. Calyx ⅛ in., glabrous- Corolla ⅜-½ in., pale yellow ; standard dotted with red. Pod 6-9in. by fin., straight or rather falcate, beaked with the persistent style.

Use.— -The seeds are mentioned by Baden Powell in his list of drugs.

Syn. — Æschynomene grandiflora, Linn. Roxb. 569.

Agati grandiflora, Desv. Coronilla grandiflora, Willd.

Sans. — Vaka.

Vern.— Basna (H.) ; Bak (B.) ; Bagfal (Sunderbans) ; Agâstâ (Bomb.) ; Agati (Tam.) ; Avisi (Tel.) ; Agase (Kan.).