Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/525

equitant. Inflorescence branched ; sheaths membranous ; spathes several-fid, subscarious ; bracts scarious ; flowers pedicelled. Perianth-tube very short ; segments oblong, spreading, subequal. Stamens inserted at the base of perianth ; filaments filiform, anthers linear basifixed. Ovary obovoid. Style filiform ; arms elongate ; tips reniform, stigmatic. Capsule obovoid, membranous, loculicidal ; valves reflexed, leaving the seed-bearing axis persistent and free. Seeds subglobose ; testa lax, shining, fleshy within. (J. D. Hooker).

Uses: — Loureiro states that the roots are used medicinally in Cochin-China, and that they have aperient and resolvent properties and purify the blood of gross humors, being specially useful in Cynanche. According to Rheede, it is used as an alexipharmic in Malabar, being given to those who have been bitten by the cobra, and to cattle who have fed upon poisonous plants.

Vern. : — Rakas patta, banskeora, barakanwar, kantala, (Hind.); Jungli or Bilati-ananash, bilatipat, koyan, murga (Beng.) ; Jangli-kunvara, parkanda (Bomb.) ; Rakas-patta (Dec); Anaik-kat razhai, pithakalabuntha (Tam.); Rakashi-matalu (Tel.) ; Wilyatu kaitalu (Pb.) ; Janglikunvâra (Guz.) ; Panam-katrâzua (Mal.) ; Bhuttâle budukattalenaru (Kan.).

Habitat: — Originally a native of America, naturalized in many parts of India.

Leaves lanceolate, many, in a lax rosette, from a short stout prostrate or ascending trunk which is usually hidden by their thick bases, deep green, often variegated with white or pale yellow longitudinal stripes or borders, sometimes rather glaucous ; at base spreading, then ascending, tips sometimes recurved, 4 to 6ft. long, and as much as half a foot broad above the middle ; sharply constricted just above the base ; margins armed with strong dark brown prickles, mostly pointing