Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/342

Vern. :— Chab (H.) ; Chai, choi (B.) ; Kankala (Bomb.).

Habitat : — Cultivated in various parts of India.

A stout, climbing herb, quite glabrous. Stem rooting. Branches flexuous, terete, hard, finely striate when dry, pale. Leaves 5-7 by 2½-3½in., rather coriaceous, pale when dry, shining above, oblong, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, 3-5- nerved at the very obliquely cordate, auricled base, penni-nerved above it ; 3-6 pair nerves above the basal nerves. Nervules arching. Petiole ¼-½in. Fruiting spikes stoutly peduncled, sub-erect, conico-cylindric, l-2in. long,-½in. diam., broadest at the base, obtuse, forming a fleshy cone of innumerable fruits, ⅛in. diam. The alternate nerves of the main portion of the leaf all starting from the midrib are very characteristic of the species (J. D. Hooker).

Uses : — It partakes of the stimulant and carminative properties of Black and Long Pepper, but does not appear to possess any special claim to notice. Its use in hæmorrhoidal affections is noticed in the " Tâleef Shereef," p. 66. No. 340. (Ph. Ind.)

Vern. : — Pahâri pîpal (B.).

Habitat : —Upper and Lower Assam ; jheels of Bengal.

A low, creeping herb, glabrous. Stem flaccid, angular, succulent, several feet long, contracting much in drying. Branches short, erect or ascending, flexuous. Leaves rarely puberulous on the nerves beneath, lower 3 by 2½-3in., nerves slender ; upper as long but narrower ; membranous, long-petioled, broadly ovate or ovate-cordate, acuminate, 5-7- nerved from the base or the linear pair, higher, inserted. Upper leaves elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, shorter-petioled. Petioles of lower leaves 2-4in. Spikes shortly peduncled. Male spikes slender, 2-3in., clothed with peltate bracts. Stamens generally 4 (Roxburgh finds 2 ). Anthers reniform ; cells confluent, dehiscing over the crown ; fruiting females always erect, ⅔-1½in. Fruit free, 1/6-⅛in. diam.