Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/558

478 and pubescent on the outside. Stamens 10, perfect, subequal. Pod thin, flat, with raised lines between, dehiscent, glabrous, 4-8in. long. "Seeds 20-30, smooth, compressed, narrow- oblong, dark-brown, shining, shallowly-pitted on the faces " (TALBOT).

Use : — The bark and leaves are prescribed in diabetes and gonorrhoea (Balfour).

Vern. : — Châkut, châksu, bânâr (H. & Duk.) ; Mulaippâlvirai, karnukâ-nam, kâttukkol, edikkol (Tam.) ; Chanu-pâlavittulu (Tel.); karin-kolla (Mal.); Châksie (Bom.) ; Kân-kuti (Mar.); Chimar or Chime, chînôl (Guz.) ; Chowun (Sind). Chaksoo (Pb.).

Habitat: — From the foot of the Western Himalayas to Ceylon.

An erect annual, l-2ft. high, with stem and leaves clothed with grey bristly viscose liairs. Leaves long-petioled. Leaflets oblong, very oblique, l-2in. long, obtuse, or subacute, 4in. long, membranous. Stipules small, linear, persistent. Racemes narrow, equalling or exceeding the leaves. Sepals lanceolate, bristly, 1/6-1/5in. Corolla reddish yellow, very small. Pod oblique, ligulate, l-l½in. long, 5-6-seeded, the thin valves beset with bristly hairs.

Parts used :— The seeds and leaves.

Use : — Mahomedan writers describe the seeds as attenuant and astringent, and say they strengthen the sight when used as a collyrium. In some books a plaster made from the seeds is recommended as an application to wounds and sores, especially of the penis. In purulent ophthalmia about a grain of the powdered seeds, after being baked, is introduced beneath the eye- lids (Dymock).

The receptacle of the seed possesses diuretic and stimulant properties (Irvine, Patna).

Used as a cathartic in habitual constipation (dose ⅛-3 drams). Seeds are found efficacious in ring-worm (Watt).