Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/163

Rh

Vern. : — Kâlâ dhatúrá (Beng., Dec, and Hind.) ; Jouz-masleasvad (Arab.); Taturahe-siyâh (Pers.); Karu-umate (Tam.) ; Nalla-ummetta (Tel.) ; Pad-daing-phu, padáyinkhátta (Burm.)-

Habitat : — A weed throughout India, in waste places.

An annual herb. Stem l-2ft. high, stout, somewhat zigzag, rather succulent, polished and shining, but slightly rough, with very minute scattered hairs, divaricately branched, marked with scars of fallen leaves. Leaves alternate, 3-6in., triangular ovate, rounded and generally very unequal- sided at base, acute, entire or more often with a few large coarse acute teeth or lobes, apparently glabrous, but with a very minute mealy pubescence on both sides, dull glaucous-green above, paler beneath, veins pellucid. Petiole l-2in. Flower white or rarely purple, very large, on very short stout stalk from the node, but not axillary erect. Calyx 3in., very minutely adpressed, pubescent, segments ½in., triangular, acuminate acute. Corolla-tube over 7in., gradually widening upwards, limb 4in. diam., lobes with the plait or midrib terminating in a short, linear, acute tail, pubescent on back. Stamens about as long as Corolla-tube, anthers nearly ¾in. Ovary papillose, style over Bin. Capsule nodding, on curved pedicel, l½in., supported base on reflexed base of Calyx, flesh v green, covered with numerous, scattered, short, straight, sharp prickles. Seeds very numerous, closely packed, nearly smooth, pale brown (Trimen).

Uses : — The seeds constitute a favourite poison for criminal purposes. The seeds and their preparations are generally employed by the Indian road poisoners not for the purpose of destroying life, but for stupefying their victims with the view of committing theft. Death may follow as a consequence of over-dose (Kanai Lai De). (See Chevers' Jurisprudence). They are also used to render liquor more intoxicating, being burned upon charcoal with vessels inverted to catch the smoke. The seeds are also used in the form of a powder for the same purpose, being more powerful in this form. When full of smoke the liquor is thrown into the vessel and the mouth