Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Coriarieæ
N. O. CORIARIÆ.
335. Coriaria nepalensis, Wall, h.f.b.i., ii. 44.
Vern—Masuri, makola, (H.); Lizaklo, (Sutlej) ; Raselwa, archarru, pajerra (Simla ); Bhojinsi, (Nep.); Mosroi, Gangeru, Gangaru (Jaunsar); Ayar (Kumaon); Gogsa, Makala (Garhwal), Tons Valley.
Habitat:—Jaunsar and Tehri-Garhwal, 4-8,000 ft., fairly common among shrubby vegetation on hill sides and in ravines, occasionally in the Saharanpur Siwaliks, e. g., Chillawali Ran. Outer Himalaya, from the Indus to Bhutan, ascending to 8,000 ft. in the west and to 11,000 ft. in Sikkim. The name of the Hill Station Mussoorie (properly Masuri) is said to have been caused by the abundance of this plant on the site
A deciduous, straggling shrub or small tree, says Gamble. A large shrub with long spreading branches, says Kanji Lal. Bark reddish brown, rough. Wood grey, hard, beautifully mottled. No heart-wood. Branchlets quadrangular. Leaves 2-4 by 1-2½ in., ovate oblong, cordate, acuminate, obscurely serrulate, 3-7-nerved at the base, sometimes puberulous beneath. Petiole 0-1/10 in. long. Racemes 2-6 in. long, usually clustered. Flowers ⅓- in. diam., greenish yellow. Fruit 1/5- ⅓in. diam., dark-brown or black.
Fl.—April, May. Fr.—June and July. Fruit edible. Branches browsed by sheep.
It is called the Mussoorie-berry (Kanji Lal).
Use.—The leaves are used to adulterate senna, and act as a poison in large doses. The fruit is said to produce symptoms like tetanus (Watt).
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