Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/588

third or basal part of the spadix. Perianth absent, male and female flowers contiguous, i. e., having no neuters between. Male-Stamens numerous, dense. Anthers 2-celled, sessile, close-packed, compressedly cylindrical ; rounded at the top ; straw-coloured ; glabrous. Connective, longitudinal, fleshy, separating the two loculi. Pollen globose, lemon-yellow, or almost orange-coloured, " vermiform," says Trimen. Female flowers :— pistils numerous; somewhat loosely and spirally arranged ; stigma 3-lobed, often 2-lobed, all on the same level ; much thickened and expanded, slightly papillose, cream-coloured or yellowish. Style crimson or purplish, ¼-⅓in. long, much longer than ovary, deciduous. Ovary, 2-rarely 3-celled, with only 1 ovule ; purple or deep crimson ; broad, globose. Ovules attached to the inner angle of the carpel at its base, ascending, ovoid, anatropous. " Berries 2-3-seeded, red," says Trimen. But not known ever to have developed in the Westtern Peninsula and the Dekkan, where it is much cultivated for its tubers. (K. R. K.)

It must be noted here that the wild or uncultivated variety of Amorphophallus campanulatus is entirely different from the tuber of Amorphophallus sylvaticus* (Kunth), which is also locally named Jangly-Suran, and described by Dr. Dymock under that name in the Pharmaceutical Journal (p. 172, vol, vii, 3rd Series). Dr. Dymock was well aware of this fact at the time he first described this plant, for he has since repeated his remarks in his later works,— viz., "The Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India" and "The Pharmacographia Indica"— that " it is probable the two plants are distinct," for he adds that " it is probable the roots of the wild Amorphpallns camapnulatus form a part of the commercial article known as Madanmast, which is the tuberous root of Amorphophallus sylvaticus, peeled, cut into slices and strung upon a string." (K. R. K.)

Uses : — The corm (or tuber) and the seeds are used as irritants and relieve the pain of rheumatic swellings when applied externally. It is considered a hot carminative in the form of a pickle. The tubers contain a large quantity of farinaceous matter, mixed with acrid poisonous juice, which may be extracted by washing or heat. When fresh, it acts as an acrid stimulant and expectorant, and is used in acute rheumatism.

• Synoynms.— (I) Synantherias sylvatica (Schott.)— Hooker's Flora Br. Ind., art XIX, page 517 : (II) Arum silvaticum (Warden and Pedler's article on he nature of the toxic principle of the Aroideæ.- Journal As. Soc, Bengal, vol. LVI, part 2, No. 1.)