Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/542

Habitat : — Extensively cultivated in India during the latter part of the rains.

Root biennial, or more, consisting of a fascicle of several ovate, oblong bulbs, generally (as found in the markets) about as large as the first joint of the middle finger. Leaves somewhat bifarious, fistulous, more than semi-cylindrical, tapering, pointed, compressed toward the apex, smooth and shorter than the scapes. Scapes rising from the centre of the short stem formed by the united sheathes of the leaves, naked, round, smooth, slightly swelled towards the base and from thence tapering to the umbel, from one to two feet long. Sheaths shorter than the umbel, irregularly bursting into two or three sub-ovate segments. Umbels globular, as much as two-hundred-flowered. Flowers like those of the common onion (Allium cepa). Petals equal, expanding, shorter than the stamens, white, with a green keel. Filaments erect, alternately dilated at the base. Anthers ovate, green. (Roxburgh.)

Uses : — It is used to cure earache, a small piece being placed in the meatus. It is also fried in butter and preserved in honey as an aphrodisiac. (Pharmacogra. Ind., Vol., III. p. 492).

Sans. : — Palandu.

Vern : — Piyáz (H. B. and Pb.) ; Dungari (Guz. and Sind.) , Kanda (Mar.); Vella-Vengazam, irulli, ira-vengay-am (Tam.); Vulli-gaddalu, niruli (Tel.) ; Vengazam, nirulli, kumbali (Kan.) ; Bawang(Mal.).

Habitat: — Cultivated all over India.

Leaves fistular, sub-distichous, shorter than the inflated scape. Heads dense with flowers and bulbils. Pedicels shorter than the stellate flowers ; sepals linear-oblong ; filaments exserted, simple, or the inner 2-toothed at base.

Uses : — The bulbs contain an acrid, volatile oil, which acts as a stimulant, diuretic, and expectorant. Onions are occasionally used in fever, dropsy and catarrh, and chronic bronchitis ; in colic