Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/597
Herbs. Leaves 6-12in. broad, cordate or sagittately cordate, acuminate, basal lobes divaricate. Spathe green, obtuse 2-4in. long, not contracted above the female inflorescence. Spadix included male and female inflorescence close together, cylindric. Stamens distinct in dense groups. Seeds small, ovoid, albuminous. Embryo axile.
Uses : — The large rhizome, which is invested with the old withered leaf-scales, bears numerous white long rootlets issuing from its surface, and is said to be held in high estimation by the natives as an aromatic stimulant. (Watt.)
1320. Scindapsus officinalis, Schott., h.f.b.i., vi. 541.
Syn. : — Pothos officinalis, Roxb. 145.
Sans. : — Gaja-pippali, kari-pippali, kapi-balli, kola-balli, śreyasi, vaśira.
Vern. :— Gajapipal, Hati-pipli, barîpiplî (H) Gajapipal, (B.) ; Dare jhapak (Santal) ; Thora-pimpli (Mar.); Motto-pipar (Guz.) ; Atti-tippili (Tarn.) ; Enuga-pippalu, gaja-pippallu (Tel.) ; Dodda-hipalli (Kan.) ; Attitippili, anait-tippili (Mal.).
Habitat: — Sal forest of the Siwalik, trailing on trees by suckers from nodes very common in the Dudhli Block. Tropical Himalaya, from Sikkim eastward. Bengal, Chittagong, Burma and the Andamans.
A forest plant, fleshy, climbing shrub, herbaceous, perennial. Stem reaching lin. or more in diam.; annulate. Leaves 5-12 by 2½-6in., dark-green, ovate or elliptic-ovate, alternate, caudate-acuminate ; base rather obliquely rounded or subcordate ; petiole 2-6in. long, elbowed at tip, sheathing amplexicaul. Spathe yellow within. Berries fleshy, ovoid or lanceolate, about 6in. long. (Kanjilal.) Seed ovate-cordate.
Fruiting spadix sometimes a span long. (J. D. Hooker.) The stem is traversed by a strong fibre which is easily separated and can be used for various purposes. Leaves eaten as a vegetable. (Kanjilal.)
Uses : — The dried fruit is a stimulant, diaphoretic and anthelmintic (Ph. Ind.) By Sanskrit writers it is said to be aro-