Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Ampelideæ
N. 0. AMPELIDÆ.
296. Vitis quadrangularis, Wall., h.f.b.l, i. 645.
Syn. : — Cissus quadrangularis, Linn. Roxb. 136.
Sans. : — Asthisanhari, vajravalli.
Vern. : — Harshankar, harjora, kándawel, Mhoisvel, nallar, Khárbuti (H. and Bomb.) ; Hâd Sânkal, Hadsankal (Porebander and Guj.); Pirandal (Tam.) ; Nulle rotigeh, Nallera (Tel.) ; Tsgangelamparenda (Mal.). Hiressa (Singhalese).
Habitat : — Throughout the hotter parts of India, from the foot of the Western Himalayas in Kumaon to Ceylon and Malacca. Malay Peninsula, Java.
Stems very long, not woody, thick, sharply compressed, quadrangular but scarcely winged, the sides concave, much branched, jointed by contractions at the nodes, glabrous, green, fleshy, the younger ones square on section and with winged angles. Tendrils long, slender, simple. Leaves distant, few, 1-2 in., broadly ovate or rotundate-deltoid, truncate at base, very obtuse, distantly spinous-crenate, glabrous, thick. Petiole ¼- ½in., sub-quadrangular ; stipules small, in small umbels on branches of short paniculate cymes. Petals ovate, acute. Style short, blunt. Berry globose, apiculate, red.
Parts used :— The stalk and leaves. Use ; — The leaves and young shoots when dried are powdered and given by the Tamool practitioners in certain bowel affections connected with indigestion ; they are also considered as powerful alteratives (AINSLIE).
The juice of the stem is dropped into the ear in otorrhœa, and into the nose in epistaxis by the Marâthas. It has also a reputation in scurvy and in irregular menstruation (Dymock).
Trimen : — "An article of food, both fried and curried." The stem beaten into a paste is given in asthma (Balfour). A preserve of the stem prepared by boiling it in lime water is a useful stomachic (MOODEEN SHERIFF.)
297. V. adnata, Wall, h.f.b.l, i. 649.
Syn. — Cissus adnata, Roxb. 136.
Vern. — Kole-Zân (Bom.) ; Bod-lar-nari (Santal) ; Panilari (Paharia) ; Kungchen-rik (Lepcha) ; Gudametige, kokkitaya-ralu (Tel) ; Nâdena (Mahâbaleshwar) Marâthi. This is the name in the Concan. Thâna District — K. R. Kirtikar.
Habitat. — Hotter parts of India, from the Western Himalaya in Garhwal to Assam, Sylhet and Bengal. Western Peninsula and Ceylon.
Stems slender, cylindric, at first covered with orange tomentum, afterwards glabrous. Tendrils forked, woolly. Leaves 2-3 in., broadly ovate, cordate or wide-truncate at base, shortly acuminate, acute, spinous-serrate, nearly glabrous above (when full-grown), densely covered with orange tonemtum beneath. Petioles about lin., very tomentose. Stipules broad, obtuse, membranous, hairy. Flowers on slender, hairy, rather drooping pedicels. Cymes paniculate, orange-tomentose ; ped-uncles exceeding the petioles. Berry ¼ in. ; black, on recurved stalk, pyriform, appendiculate. Tendril woody, says Lawson. Seed 3/10 in., pyriform, smooth.
Parts used. — The tubers and roots.
Use. — The dried tubers are used by the country people as an alterative, in the form of a decoction ; they consider that it purifies the blood, acts as a diuretic, and renders the secretions healthy (DYMOCK.)
The root, powdered and heated, is applied to cuts and fractures by the Santals (Revd. A. Campbell,)
298. V. latifolia, h.f.b.l. i. 652, Roxb. 222.
Vern. : — Pâni-bel, musal (Merwaraj ; Govila (B.) Jungli Drakh (Porebander and Guj.); Golinda (Marâthi).
Habitat. North-West India ; Kuruaon and Moradabad. Assam, Silhet and the Western Peninsula, from the Concan and Coromandel coast, southwards.
The whole plant quite glabrous generally. Stems weak, hollow, far-climbing, striate. Leaves 5-8 by 6-8 in., glossy, roundly-cordate, 3-7-angled or-lobed, peduncles shortish, bearing a slender iorked tendril. Flowers very small, in small, some-what compact, thyrsoid Cymes, reddish-brown ; petals distinct ; peduncles bearing a short, wiry tendril a little below the cyme. Style 0. Fruit of the size of a current, black, 2-seeded. Seeds ⅓-¼ in., elliptic, with a linear tubercle on the back and the margins transversely rugose, bluntly ridged on the face.
Use. — According to Royle, the roots (Kusar) are used medicinally (Royle. 111., p. 144.)
299. V. vinifera, Linn, h.f.b.l, i. 652.
Sans. — Drâkshâ ; mridirkâ.
Vern. — Of the fresh fruit— Grapes, Eng. Angûr, Dâkh, Hind. Angûr, Duk. Kodi-mundrip-pazham, Dirâksha-pazkam or Dirâksha-param, Tam. Drâksha-pandu, Gostini-pandu, Tel. Muntirinnap-pazham or Muntri-param, Malyal. Drâkshi-hannu, Can. Angûr, Drakhyâ, Beng. Drâksha-phalam, Sans. Drákska, Mah. Drákh, Guz. Mudra-palam, Mudrakâ, Cing. Sabî-sî Sabya-si, Bur. Ainab or Aanab, Arab. Angûr, Pers. Of the ripe fruit, dried in the sun or with artificial heat — Monaqqâ, Hind., Duk, and Pers. Ularnda-dirâksha-pazham or Ularnda- drâcha-param, Tam. Endu-drâksha-pandu, Dîpa-draksha-pandu, Tel. Unanniya-muntrinap-param, Malyal. Dîpa-drakshî, Can. Monakkha, Beng. Vellich-cha-mudra-palam, Cing. Zabîbmavéz, Arab. Of the small variety of raisins without stones — Sultâna Raisins, Eng. Kishmish, Bédânah, Hind., Duk. and Pers.
Habitat. — Wild in the N. W. Himalaya ; cultivated extensively in N. W. India and rarely in the Peninsula as Poona and Nasik.
A large, woody climber ; tendrils long, bifid. Leaves simple, glabrous above, clothed beneath with grey floccose deciduous tomentum, from a cordate base nearly orbicular, more or less deeply 5-lobed, edge cut into large unequal, acute teeth ; basal nerves 5, the midrib with 4-5 pair of prominent secondary nerves, petioles generally shorter than leaf, longer than half its length. Flowers green, fragrant, petals cohering at the top. Inflorescence usually on the tendrils. Cymes arranged in panicles. Fruit 3-5-seeded.
Use. — The dried fruits, called raisins, are used in medicine. They are described as demulcent, laxative, sweet, cooling, agreeable and useful in thirst, heat of body, cough, hoarseness and consumption (DUTT).
Mahomedan writers consider grapes and raisins to be attenuant, suppurative, pectoral and the most digestible of fruit, purifying the blood and increasing its quantity and quality. The ashes of the wood are recommended as a preventive of stone in the bladder, cold swellings of the testes and piles. The juice of the unripe grapes is used as an astringent. The modern Italians use the juice in affections of the throat (DYMOCK).
The leaves, on account of their astrigency, are sometimes used in diarrhœa.
In modern native practice, the raisins are considered cool and aperient, and given in coughs, catarrh and jaundice (MOOKERJî).
Grapes are refrigerant, diuretic and antipyretic. In large doses, raisins act as a demulcent, expectorant and laxative, and in smaller ones as an astringent.
The sherbet or syrup of grapes is a very pleasant and cooling drink, and proves very useful in relieving thirst and other pyrexial symptoms in many forms of fever. I have also used it with advantage in ardor-urinæ, dysuria, strangury and some cases of bilious dyspepsia. It is one of the best and most agreeable vehicles for other medicines, particularly those used in dyspepsia, dysentery, diarrhœa, and dropsical affections. From their combined actions of demulcent, expectorant and laxative, raisins are a frequent ingredient in Mohamedan prescriptions for catarrhal and febrile complaints. They enter into the composition of Tinctura Cardamomi Composita and Tinctura Sennæ. They also form an ingredient in one of my own formulae for certain forms of fever. There is little or no difference between the medicinal properties of the common variety of raisins and those of the small ones without stones (MOODEN SHERIFF.)
300. V. indica, Linn, h.f.b.l, i. 653.
Vern. : — Amdhauka, Amulka(B.); Janglî angûr (H. and Dec.) ; Sambara or shembara-valli (Tel.) Chempara-valli (Malyal.) ; Randraksha, kole-jan (Mar.) ; Pâlkanda (Konk.) To-wel, Rata-bulatwel (Sinhalese).
Habitat :— The central tableland of India, the Western Peninsula and Bengal. Ceylon most low country, up to 2,500 ft.
Stems slender ; permanently woolly-tomentose branches, leaves and peduncles. Leaves 4-10in., coriaceous, at length glabrous and shining above, cordate-obovate, acute, denticulate-serrate, the points of the serratures hard almost to spiny. Ped-uncles stoutish, bearing a long, simple or bifurcated tendril (K. R. K). Flowers greenish-purple, nearly sessile, in short cylindrical spikes, about 2 in. Petals distinct ; rhomboid-ovate. Style O. Fruit globose, the size of a large currant or pea, 2-4 seeded. Seed ½ by ¼in., elliptic, slightly curved on the back, from end to end, otherwise flattish, with a spathulate tubercle, the face wedge-shaped.
Use : — According to Rheede, the juice of the root, with the kernel of the cocoanut, is employed as a depurative and aperient.
In the Concan, the country folk use it as an alterative in the form of a decoction, and they consider it to purify the blood and act as a diuretic and render the secretions healthy (DYMOCK.)
301. V. setosa, Wall, h.f.b.i., i. 654.
Syn. : — Cissus Setosa, Roxb. 137.
Vern. : — Baru-butsali, barre bach-cbali, warsi pala, pulla bach-chali (Tel.) ; Harwal (H.) ; Yek-gisam-ka-bachla (Dec.) ; Khâj goli-cha vel (Mar.); Puli-pêrandai ; puli-naravi ; Anuittad-bêtichal (Tam.)
Habitat :- Western Peninsula, from the Circars and Mysore southwards. Ceylon.
Stems prostrate, weak-branched, succulent, zigzag, striate, hispid, with glandular hairs. Tendrils long, forked. Leaves 3-foliate (rarely simple), sessile. Leaflets shortly stalked, obovate or oblong-cuneate at base, obtuse, irregularly toothed or laciniate, succulent, glabrous above, glandular-hispid on the veins beneath, pale green, the central one narrower and on longer stalk. Stipules broad ovate, acute. Flowers small on long glandular pedicels. Cymes teminating lateral branches, dichotomous, lax, divaricate. Peduncle 1½-4 in. long, glandular-hispid. Calyx loose, truncate. Petals contracted in the middle, hooked, ultimately reflexed. Berry over ¼ in., ovoid, strongly glandular-hisped, scarlet, size of a pea. Seed sub-globose, nearly smooth. The fruit is acid at first to taste, but afterwards very burning and acrid. In fact, every part of the plant is exceedingly acrid, says M. B. Lawson in Hooker's Flora, Br. Ind.
Parts used : — The leaves.
Use : — It is exceedingly acrid. The leaves are sometimes externally applied as a domestic remedy to promote suppuration and assist in the extraction of guinea-worm (DYMOCK).
It is a useful local stimulant, in the form of a poulitice (MOODEEN SHERIFF).
302. V. trifolia, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 654, Roxb. 137.
Syn. : — V. Carnosa, Wall.
Sans : — Amla-parnî.
Vern. : — Amal-bel, gidad-drâk, kassar (H.) ; Bundal, amallala, sone-kesur (B.) ; Jarila-lara (Paharia) ; Takbli-rik (Lepcha); Maimati (Assam) ; Kârik, âmal-bel, gidardâk, drikri, vallur (Pb.) ; Odki, ambat-vel (Mar.) ; Khât-khatumbo, tâmânya (Guz.) ; Kuru dinne, kâdepa tige, kanapatige, mandulamari tige, meka mettani chettu (Tal.) Walratdiyalabu (Sinhalese).
Habitat : — Throughout the hotter parts of India and ascending into the tropical Himalaya. Ceylon.
Stems slender, much-branched, angular, quite glabrous. Tendrils long, slender, wavy, branched, and opposite the leaves. Young shoots glabrous, red. Leaves 3-foliate, 2-6 in., on long peduncles, channelled above. Leaflets small, usually shortly stalked, the middle one the largest and on longer stalk, broadly oval or rotundate, rounded at base, acute or obtuse, very coarsely crenate-serrate, glabrous and shining, thick. Stipules small, ovate, acute. Flowers white, green, says Trimen, shortly pedicellate. Cymes di-or-tri-chotomous, lax, divaricate, terminating lateral branches. Peduncle 2½-3 in., glabrous, petals acute, spreading. Berry ¾ in., or more, depressed-globose, smooth, purple, 3-or 4-seeded, very juicy. Seed acutely trigonous, sharply pointed, bluntly muricate on beak, wedge-shaped on the face.
Parts used. — The seeds and roots.
Use. — The names given to it in many parts of India denote one of its most general uses, viz., the treatment of yoke sores on the necks of bullocks. For that purpose, a poultice of the leaves is employed (Elliot). According to Irvine the seeds and also leaves are employed as an embrocation. Stewart remarks that the root, ground with black, pepper, is applied to boils. The root — Kâmrâj (H.) is used as an astringent medicine.
303. V. araneosus, Dalz. & Gibs, h.f.b.l, i. 657.
Vern. : — Bendir, bender-wel, ghorwel (Bom.). The root — Chamarmusli (Bomb.)
Habitat : — Western Peninsula, highest ghats of the Concan and Pulney Mts. Grows very freely in Thana, and is called Bendri. The whole plant covered with decidous down, except on the under-surface of the leaves where it is persistent. Stems flattened, slender for climbing. Leaves membranous, 4-6 in. petiole 1-2 in. ; terminal leaflet elliptic, lateral semi-elliptic, shortly stalked, serrate, at length glabrous above, felted beneath. Flowers dark brown or red, in small compact umbellate cymes, on long woolly peduncles, which bear a forked tendril about an inch from the top. Style very short. Fruit globose, of the size of a cnrrant, black, 3-4-seeded. Seeds ⅓ by 1/6 in., elliptic, with a round depression on the back, puckered round the margins.
Use:— -The vine is often given to horses when it first springs up ; it is said to be very beneficial once a year. The tuberous, starchy, astringent roots, sliced and dried, are sold by the Goncan herbalists, under the name of Chamar-musli (DYMOCK).
304. V. pedata, Vahl. h.f.b.l, i. 661, Roxb. 138.
Sans. : — Godhâpadi (foot of the Iguana, from the shape of the leaf).
Vern. :— Goali-latâ (B.); Tungrûtrikup (Lepcha.); Edakula, mandula, kaunem, pulimâdâ, kâniâpatige, kâdepatige (Tel.) ; Ghorpad-vel (Mar.) ; Mediya-wel (Sinhalese).
Habitat : — Bengal, Sylhet, Assam, Khasia Hills and the Western Peninsula, from the Concan to Ceylon.
A large climber. Stems weak, cylindric, striate, usually covered with short pubescence, mixed with longer, brown, spreading hairs; tendrils long, forked, very slender, young parts tomentose. Leaves large, 3-foliate (Trimen), usually 7-foliate (M.A. Lawson) ; the lateral leaflets usually pedately-compound. Petiole 2-3in,, pubescent and hairy, like the stem, central leaflet long-stalked, lateral leaflets shortly stalked, rarely simple, usually divided into 2-3 or 4 leaflets which are unequal, nearly sessile or shortly stalked, all leaflets acute and often oblique at base, shortly acuminate, acute, coarsely and shallowly repand-dentate, more or less pubescent on both sides, especially beneath. Flowers white, bi-sexual, on short pubescent pedicels. Cyme corymbose, shortly pedunculate, dichotomous, lax, spreading, axillary, shorter or longer than petiole. Calyx very shallow, segments usually 4 (rarely 5) ; hooked and slightly coherent at top, pubescent outside, soon falling. Berry ½ in, depressed, globose, cream-coloured, 2-4-seeded. Seed semi-globose, smooth.
Use : — Sometimes used as a substitute for, or adulterant of, V. setosa.
This plant is used as a domestic medicine, because of its astringency (DYMOCK). ((rule|6em}}
305. Leea macrophylla, Roxb. h.f.b.l, i. 664, Roxb. 291.
Sans. : — Samoodraka.
Vern. — Dhol-shumoodra (B.) ; Dindâ (Bomb.) ; Samudraca (H.) ; Hatkan ( Santal) ; Dinda (Mar.).
Habitat :— Throughout the hotter parts of India, from the tropical Himalaya, as far west as Kumaon, to Bengal, Assam, and the Western Peninsula.
Stems erect, flexuose. Leaves simple, 9in., 2-fid, broadly ovate, sub-cordate at base, coarsely serrate or dentate or sub-lobed, repand, glabrous and dark green above, nearly white beneath, and pubescent, with minute-branching hairs. Cymes puberulous, 1-ft. or more, freely-branching. Flowers white, small. Fruit the size of a small cherry, smooth, black, succulent.
Part used : — The root.
Uses : — The tuberous root is employed in the cure of guinea-worm, and when pounded is applied to obstinate sores to promote cicatrization. According to Roxburgh, the root is astringent and a reputed remedy for ringworm (DYMOCK).
The root is said to yield colour for dyeing. In Chutia Nagpur, it is supposed to have anodyne properties, being applied externally to allay pain (Revd. A. Campbell).
The Burmans use the root as an application to wounds to stop the effusion of blood (Mason).
306. L. crispa, Willd. h.f.bl, i. 665, Roxb. 220.
Vern. : — Ban-chelta (B.) ; Nalugu (Malay).
Habitat : — Sikkim, Terai, Assam Khasi hills, Dacca, Chittagong, Lower Burma, Concan, North Kanara.
A stiff shrub. Leaves usually quinate-pinnate, stems, branches and petioles generally with 6-8 narrow crispid wings, nearly glabrous ; leaflets usually 5, oblong, 4-12 in. by 1½-3½ in., deeply and irregularly serrate; secondary nerves numerous, prominent beneath, straight, parallel one to each serration ; tertiary nerves indefinite, parallel. Corymbs stoutish, small ; bracts minute. Anthers distinct. Fruit the size of a cherry, black, succulent. The crisped, winged stems and petioles, says Lawson, give to this plant a most elegant appearance.
Use : — The tubers are used as a remedy for guinea-worm, and are said to be more efficient than those of L. macrophylla (DYMOCK).
The leaves, when bruised, are employed in Bengal as an application to wounds. (Revd. J. Long).
307. L. sambucina, Willd. h.f.b.i., i. 666, Roxb. 221.
Vern. — Kurkur-jihwa (H. and B.) ; Dino (Goa) ; kar-kani (Mar.) ; Aukados (Tel.) ; Nalûgu (Mal.). Burulla guralla (Sinhalese).
Habitat. — Throughout the hotter parts of India. Ceylon.
A shrub, with straight branches. Leaves pinnate or tripinnate, often 3½ by 4 ft.; leaflets stalked, very variable in size and shape ; nerves arcuate. Flowers greenish-white. Anthers connate. Fruit dry, the size of a small dry cherry. Parts used : — The root and leaves.
Use : — According to Rheede, a decoction of the root is given in colic, and it is cooling and relieves thirst.
In Goa, the root, called ratanhia by the Portuguese, is much used in diarrhœa and chronic dysentery. The roasted leaves are applied to the head in vertigo. The juice of the young leaves is a digestive. In Reunion, the root is called Bois de Surreau, and is said to be used as a sudorific (DYMOCK).
308. L. robusta, Roxb. h.f.b.l, i. 667, Roxb. 220.
Vern : — Gino (Goa) ; Haramada, hatkan (Santal) ; Gabui (Nepal) ; Pantom (Lepcha).
Habitat : -Sikkim Himalaya and Khasia Mts., Western Peninsula and the Northern Circars. Kolaba, Mîrya Hill, Ratnagiri.
A large, robust shrub, 5-6 ft. Stems stout, the older parts glabrous, the young covered with harsh, coarse, short pubescence. Leaves 2-3-pinnate, pubescent, 1-3 ft. long, often broader leaflets 6-12 by 2½-6 in. ovate or ovate-lanceolate, cuspidate, serrate, glabrous above, pubescent on the veins beneath. Bracts large, persistent, ½-1 in. lanceolate. Flowers larger than in the other species. Cymes compact. Flowers larger than in the other species. Anthers connate. Fruit black, succulent, the size of a small cherry.
Uses : — In Chutia Nagpur, the soft and fleshy root is applied externally as an anodyne, and is also given to cattle for diarrhœa (Revd. A. Campbell).
309. L. hirta, Roxb. h.f.b.l, i. 668. Roxb. 220.
Syn : — Leea arguata, Linn.
Sans. : — Kâkajanghâ.
Habitat :— Sikkim Himalaya, ascending too 2,000 ft., Assam, Vilhasi hills Silhet, the Khasia Mts., Sundarban, East Bengal, and Chittagong. Pegu and Andaman Islands. Forests near Karwar.
A shrubby evergreen, with coarse, scabrous branches and petioles. Leaves hairy ; leaflets 4.-12 by 2-4 in., lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, harsh and scabrous above, hairy beneath, veins arched. Cymes very short and compact, 2-5 in., densely hirsute. Bracts inconspicuous. Flowers large, anthers connate. Fruit the size of a pea, black when ripe.
Use : — It is used medicinally. The tubers and stems are probably astringent and mucilaginous.
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