Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/463

oblong, 4-celled ; filament short. Females in small ovoid spikes at the ends of lateral branchlets, consisting of very short joints, one flower under each tooth of the annular sheath. Perianth of 2 large scales enclosing the ovary, which, as the seed ripens, grow out into 2 large woody valves, more or less hairy, supported before maturity by the tooth of the sheath. Ovary 1-celled, with 2 pendulous; ovules, only one of which developes into a seed. Style short, dividing into 2 long filiform, garnet-coloured branches. Fruit a woody, globose cone, ¾in. diam.; testa aduate to the walls of the achene, which terminates in a long membranous wing. Albumen ; embryo straight, radicle superior; cotyledons flat. The tree is monoecious the male and female flowers are sometimes, found on the same branch, but (as often happens with monoecious trees) some trees habitually bear male and other female flowers only. (Brandis).

This is one of the most interesting plants in the vegetable kingdom as regards its morphological peculiarities as well described by Brandis.

Uses : — The bark, according to Dr. Gibson, is an excellent and often readily available astringent in the treatment of chronic diarrhœa and dysentery. In infusion it is employed as a tonic.

Syn. :~ Betula Bhojpatra, Wall.

Sans. : — Bhurjapatra.

Vern. :— Bhejpattra (H.) ; Burj, Burzal, bhuj phurz (Pb. ) ; Shák or shág, pad, phatak, takpa (Ladak, Lahoul, Piti, and Kanawar); Phuspat (Nepal); Bhurjpatra, bhojpatra (Bomb., Cutch and Guzerat).

Habitat : — Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Sikkim and Bhotan.

A moderate-sized, deciduous tree, often gregarious, 40-50 feet or even 60ft., or shrub at high altitudes. Bark smooth, shining, reddish-white or white, with white, horizontally oblong lenticels,