# Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Ficoideæ

N. 0. FICOIDEÆ.
558. Trianthema monogyna, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 660,
Syn. :— T. obcordata, Roxb. 385.
Sans. : — Punarnaavi.
Vern. : — Sabuni (B.) ; Nasurjanghi (Dec.) ; Sharunnay (Tam.) ; Gheli jehroo (Tel.) ; Bishkapra (Pb.) ; Narmah (Sind.) ; Kháprá (Bomb) ; Swet, Sabuni ; illat sabuni (H.) ; Muchu-gôni (Kan.).
Habitat: — Throughout Tropical India ; low country Ceylon, common.
A prostrate, somewhat succulent herb. Steins rather angular, glabrous or slightly pubescent, much branched. Leaves obliquely opposite, very unequal, the upper one larger ¾-lin., the lower smaller, ¼-½in. obovate, tapering to base, rounded, often apiculate at apex ; petiole ¼in. ; connate, very much dilated and membranous at base, especially of the smaller leaves, which form a deep triangular axillary bunch, containing the solitary sessile flowers. Calyx-segments ovate, acute. Calyx-tube scarious, thin, closely sheathed by the base of the petiole (Trimen). C. B. Clarke says that the Calyx-lobes are obtuse, cuspidate. Stamens 10-20. Ovary truncate, style simple. Capsule small, almost concealed in the stipular branch, about 8-seeded ; cap exserted, truncate, carrying away with it 3 seeds. Seeds reniform, black, dull, muriculate (Trimen).
Use : — The root which is bitter and nauseous, is given in powder in combination with ginger as a cathartic ; when taken fresh it is somewhat sweet (Ainslie).
559. T. pentandra, Linn., h.k..b.i., ii. 660.
Vern. — Bish Kapra ; Narma (Sindh and Pb.) ; Fasarláni (Sind.)
Habitat: — Punjab, Sindh, and the plains of North-West India.
Diffuse, prostrate, branched herbs ; papillose or nearly glabrous. Leaves opposite, 1-1½in., oblong or elliptic ; petiole ¼in, ​ Flowers in sessile clusters. Calyx-lobes ovate, often scarious on the margin, coloured within. Bracts scarious. Petals 0. Stamens 5, inserted near top of the calyx. Styles 2. Capsule 1/6-in. ; beak consisting of two lanceolar portions, acute upward (mitriform), separating into two 1-seeded parts, lower portion of the fruit 2-seeded. Seeds dull black, roughly puberulous, the concertric lineation very obscure (C. B. Clarke).
Use : — It is used as an astringent in abdominal diseases, and is also stated to produce abortion (Dr. Stewart).
560. T, decandra, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 661.
Vern. : — Gada-cani (B.) ; Bhees Khupra (Dec); Vallay-sharunnpy (Tam.) ; Telia ghalijeroo (Tel.) ; Jaija soppu (Kan.).
Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula.
Diffuse, prostrate, branched herb, glabrous or papillose. Leaves l-l½in. ; oblong or elliptic; petiole ⅛-¼in. Flowers in nearly sessile clusters. Calyx-lobes ovate, usually obtuse, often scarious on the margins. Bracts scarious. Stamens 10. Petals 0. Styles 2. Capsule 1/6in. ; beak a truncate solid cylinder, not at all or very obscurely mitriform, with two included seeds, indehiscent or finally splitting. Seeds 4 ; 2 lower, dull black, puberulous, with numerous faint concentric raised lines.
Uses : — The root is aperient, and said to be useful in hepatitis, asthma and suppression of the menses. A decoction of the root-bark is given as an aperient (Ainslie).
The root, ground up with milk and given internally, is said to be a specific in orchitis. The juice of the leaves dropped into the nostrils relieves one-sided headache (Surgeon-Major Thompson, c.i.e., in Watt's Dictionary).
561. Mollugo hirta, Thumb., h.f.b.i., ii., 662.
Syn. : — Pharnaceum pentagonum, Roxb. 275.
Vern.: — Kothruk (Sind.) ; Poprang, gandie bootee (Pb.); Zakhmi-haiyat (Pb. Bazar, according to Stewart *).
Habitat : — Common throughout India.
An annual herb, stellate]y woolly, sometimes less hairy, rarely glabrous. Stem prostrate, much branched, leafy. Leaves ½-1in., opposite or whorled, usually obovate, but vary from round to narrow-lanceolate; petiole O-¼in. Flowers usually sessile or nearly so ; pedicels sometimes ¾in. Sepals ⅛-¼in., elliptic or oblong, acute. Staminodes linear or 0. Stamens usually 10 or more, or even 5. Styles 3-5, linear, short. Capsule a little shorter than sepals, oblong. Seeds many, covered with raised tubercular points, the appendage sometimes carrying mere than one bristle. This is a very variable weed in tanks, marshes and rice-fields (K. R. K.).
Uses : — In the Punjab, given as a purgative in diseases of the abdomen (Stewart).
The dried plant is prescribed by native practitioners in Sindh for diarrhœa (Murray).
In Puddokota, the juice is administered internally to weak children (Pharmacographia Indica, vol. II., p. 104).
562. M. Spergula, Linn., h.f.b.i., ii. 662.
Sans. : — Grishma-Sundaraka, Phani-ja.
Vern. : — Jima (H. B.) ; Toora-elley, Kacchantharai (Tam.) ; Chayuntârâshiâkoo (Tel); Jharasi (Mar.); Kaipajira (Mal.); Parpataka (Can.).
Habitat : — Throughout India, except U.P., Panjab or Sindh.
Branched herbs, glabrous or nearly so. Stems diffuse, leafy. Leaves ½-1in., usually whorled, spathulate, lanceolate, or elliptic. Petiole 0-⅓in. Pedicels ⅛-½in., oblong, margins often membranous. Stamens 5-10, stigmas 3, minute. Capsule ellipsoid, a little shorter than the sepals. Seeds many, covered with raised tubercular points, the appendage sometimes comprises a second, yet more minute, short subulate bristle.
Uses : — Considered stomachic, aperient and antiseptic. Ainslie (ii., 431), writes that the plant is administered for suppression of the lochia, and when applied warm and moistened with a little castor oil, is reckoned a good application for earache. ​ He considers that it is justly held in estimation by the native practitioners. In Puddokota, the juice is applied to itch and other skin diseases (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II., p. 103).
563 M. stricta, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii, 663.
Syn. : — M. triphylla, Lour Roxb. 121.
Vern : — Jul-papra (B.); kharas (Bomb.).
Habitat: — Very common throughout India.
Branched glabrous herbs. Stems a foot high, leafy ; Leaves ¾-1½in., whorled or opposite, varying from lanceolate acute to obovate obtuse, much narrowed at the base ; petiole hence obscure. Cymes compound, the branches sometimes racemed. Sepals 1/16in.; elliptic or round. Stamens 3-5, filaments dilated. Styles 3, short, linear. Capsule as long as the sepals, globose, many-seeded, the walls thin. Seeds dark, chestnut-coloured, covered with raised tubercular points ; embryo curled into three-quarters of a complete circle.
Use : — Highly esteemed by the Hindus as a bitter vegetable which they eat occasionally on account of its stomachic, aperient and antiseptic properties. An infusion of the plant is given to women to promote the menstrual discharge (Dymock).
The bitter leaves are antiperiodic (Surgeon-Major Stewart, in Watt's Dictionary).
564. M. Cerviana, Seringe, h.f.b.i., ii. 663.
Vern. : — Ghima sák (Beng.) ; Pada (Mar.); Parpada gaum (Tam.) ; Parpataka (Tel.).
Habitat : —Hotter and drier parts of India, from the Punjab to Ceylon.
An annual marsh, plant, herbaceous, glabrous, much branched. Stems 3-6in., erect, usually several. Leaves ½-¾in., radical leaves tufted, spathulate or obovate ; cauline leaves linear-oblong, often 4-8 in a whorl, whence spring umbellately many branches. Peduncles trichotomous or umbellate-cymose. Sepals 1/12in., elliptic or round. Stamens 5. Styles very small. Capsule as long as the sepals, globose, many-seeded. Seeds reticulated without, tubercular raised points " pink-chestnut or yellowish, covered with slightly elevated oblong reticulations, bluntly ​ ridged on the back" (Clarke). Embryo curled, through less than a semicircle.
Uses : — Thwaites states that the plant is used as a medicine in fevers. Dr. Peters in a special note informs us that it has the reputation of promoting the flow of the lochial discharge (Watt).
565. Gisekia phranaceoides, Linn. H.F.B.I., II. 664.
Vern. :— Manall kire, nummuelli kirai (Tam.); Esukadanti kura, Isakadásari kura (Tel.).
Habitat: The Punjab, U. P., Sind and South Deccan Peninsula.
Diffuse branched, succulent, glabrous, herbs. Stems 8-1 8in. Leaves opposite or falsely whorled, fleshy, spathulate, abounding in raphides, ¾-1½in., oblong or elliptic, entire, narrowed at the base. Stipules absent. Petiole absent or 1/6in., cymes axillary, dense. Flowers sessile and pedicelled, hermaphrodite or polygamous, small, greenish or purplish. Sepals 5, nearly free, ovate, herbaceous, with membranous margins, 1/16in. Petals absent. Stamens 5, hypogynous ; filaments dilated below. Carpels usually 5, distinct, covered with papillæ ; each carpel as heavy as the sepals in fruit, ends in a short simple style and contains one basal ovule. Seeds blackish, smooth, minutely glandular-punctate. Embryo curved, less than a semicircle.
Use : — The plant has been found to act as a powerful anthelmintic in cases of taenia. The discoverer, Capt. W. H. Lowther (Journ. Agri-Hort. Soc. of India, 1857), directs that the fresh plant, including the leaves, stalks and capsules, be administered in doses of about an ounce ground into a powder and given in the form of a draught with water. The dose is recommended to be repeated three times, at intervals of four days (Ph. Ind.).
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