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1192 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

Medullary rays uniform and equidistant, moderately broad. (Gamble). Leaves coriaceous, upper surface shining, lower minutely tuberculate when dry, long-petiolate, ovate-rotund, narrowed upwards and the apex produced into a linear lanceolate tail, edges entire, undulate ; base broad, rounded to truncate, sometimes a little narrowed at the union with the petiole occasionally emarginate or in young leaves, very cordate, from 5 to 7-nerved ; lateral primary nerves about 8 pairs, reticulations five, distinct ; length of blade from 4-5 to 7in. of which the apical tail forms about a third, breadth 3 to 4-5in. petioles from 3-4in.,long, slender. Stipules minute, ovate, acute ; receptacles in pair, axillary sessile, smooth, depressed, spheroidal, when ripe dark-purple, 5in. across, with 3 broad, spreading, coriaceous basal bracts. Male flowers very few and only near the mouth of some receptacle (absent in many), sessile ; the perianth of 3 broadly ovate pieces, anther single, ovate-rotund, its filament short. Gall and fertile flowers : — sessile or pedicillate; the perianth of 5 lanceolate pieces ; style short, lateral ; stigma rounded, the galls much more numerous than the fertile females, and many of them without perianth.

Uses : — The bark is astringent, used in gonorrhœa. It has also maturative properties. The fruit is laxative and helps digestion. The seeds are said to be cooling and alterative. The leaves and young shoots are used as a purgative, and an infusion of the bark is given internally in scabies. (Ainslie and Wight.) A paste of the powdered bark is used as an absorbent in inflammatory swellings. (Dr. Emerson.) According to Bartolomeo (Voyage to the East Indies) the dried fruit " pulverized and taken in water for a fortnight, removes asthma and produces fruitfulness in women." Water in which the freshly- burnt bark has been steeped is said to cure cases of obstinate hiccup. (Dr. Thornton.) In cracked foot the juice is employed. (Asst.-Surg. T. N. Ghose.) The powder of the dried bark is used in fistula in ano. I have seen a Hakim use it with benefit in the following way : he introduced a metallic tube, something like a blow pipe, into the fistula, and putting a small quantity of the powder into it, blew the same into the fistula. (Asst.-Surg. Nobin Ch. Dutt Watt's Dic.)