Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/536

petals linear, sub-equal ; anthers oblong, much shorter than the filaments. Female umbels sub-similar. Peduncles stout, flattened ; bracteoles very minute, subulate or 0. Staminodes 3, ovary short, obtusely trigonous ; stigmas short, obtuse, recurved. Berry about ¼in. diam.

Uses : — The large tuberous roots are so like those of S. China, Linn., as not to be distinguished by the eye. The juice of the fresh root is taken inwardly for the cure of rheumatic pains, and the refuse, after extracting the juice, applied to the affected parts. (Roxburgh.)

Vern. : — Jangli-aushbah, Chobchini (H.) ; Kumárika (B.) ; Atkir (Santal) ; Chopchini (Nepal) ; Guti, gútwel, gholyel (Mar.) ; Malait-támara (Tam.) ; Konda dontena, konda támara, konda gurava tige, sitapu, chettu, kistapa, tamara, kummara baddu (Tel.) ; Kal-támara (Malay.).

Habitat : —Tropical Himalaya, from Kumaon eastward, Assam, Bengal, Chittagong, Burma, the Central Provinces and Konkan. Fairly common in the Sal Forests of the Siwalik Division, (Kanjilal).

A large, thickly climber. Stem sometimes exceeding lin. diam., stout, terete. Leaves ovate or orbicular, 6-18in. long, thinly coriaceous, cuspidate, shining above ; nerves 5-7, from the rounded or sub-cordate base, cirrhi long. Petiole stout, l-l½in. long, the lower half narrowed and sheathing. Male peduncles ½-1½in., slender. Umbels many-fid, 2-3, many flowered. Pedicels not exceeding ⅛in., stout in fruit. Sepals 1/5in. long, linear. Stamens as long as the sepals. Staminodes of females 3, ovary oblong ; stigmas 3 sessile. Berries ⅓-1½in. round, 1-2- seeded. Seeds biconvex.

Uses : — In some parts of India, the roots are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla in the treatment of venereal disease. Among the Santals, they are applied for rheumatism and pains in the lower extremities. The inhabitants of Nepal give them in doses of three máshas, for the treatment of gonorrhœa and other discharges from mucous membranes. (Watt.)