Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/427

N. O. EUPHORBIACEÆ. 1177

In Fiji, it is employed for the cure of leprosy, its mode of application being very singular. The body of the patient is first rubbed with green leaves ; he is then placed in a small room and bound hand and foot, when a small fire is made of pieces of the wood of this tree from which rises a thick smoke ; the patient is suspended over this fire, and remains for some hours in the midst of the poisonous smoke and under the most agonizing torture, often fainting. When thoroughly smoked, he is removed, and the slime is scraped from his body ; he is then scarified and left to await the result. In some cases he is cured, but frequently the patient dies under the ordeal. (Smith's Econ. Dic.)

Vern. : — Básingh (Kumaon).

Habitat : — Western and Central Himalaya from Nepal to Kumaon. Khasia Mts.

A small evergreen tree, milky, glabrous ; foliage deep-green. Leaves 3-6 by l-2in., alternate, membranous, elliptic, oblong- lanceolate, or oblanceolate, acuminate, serrulate or crenulate ; nerves 8-10 pairs, strong beneath, arched, petiole 1/6-¼in., stout, eglandular, Spikes terminal and axillary, l-2in., slender, androgynous ; bracts rounded or acuminate, broadly ovate, acute, entire, 2-3-fid. Male flowers : — sessile, 2-3 in. ; the axil of a broadly ovate bract. Female flowers pedicelled, at the base of the spikes. Male sepals lanceolate, acuminate, entire ; female sepals broadly ovate, acute, glandular at the base within ; style stout, very short. Capsule about ⅔in. diam., 2-3-lobed; seeds smooth, globosely ovoid, mottled. (J. D. Hooker.)

Uses : — The Bhutias inhabiting East Kumaon use the leaves of this plant as a remedy for rheumatism. (Watt.)

Vern. : — Bhui-Erandi (Concan).