1½in. Calyx gibbous, laterally compressed, somewhat 2-lipped. Petals reflected, red at first, fading to lead colour, very unequal in size. 2 lower the largest, claw winged. Staminodes 5 emarginate scales. Stamens 10. anthers ovate. Ovary at the top of the Staminal-column, 5-lobed, 5-celled. Styles awl-shaped, more or less united, slightly thickened and stigmatose at the tips. Ovules many in each cell. Follicles spirally twisted,
cylindric. beaked, pubescent.
Parts used : — The fruit, root, and bark.
Uses : — The fruits are made into liniment for sores of the ear (Ainslie. )
They are also internally administered for colic, according to the ancient "doctrine of signatures."
Sloane speaks of the juice of the root having virtues in empyema and stomach affections. Leaves are used in Jamaica for decoction for clysters (Murray.;
In the Konkan it is used in snake-bite and diabetes (Dymock). It is also used in an thelmintic diarrhœa, dysentery, hose of powdered bark one wâl* to ¼ tola.
The root and bark used by the Santals for the same purposes as the fruit (Revd. A. Campbell.)
According to Moodeen Sheriff, it is demulcent and mild astringent, and useful with other drugs in the griping of bowels, and flatulence of children.
182. Pterospermum suberfolium. Lam, , h.f.b.l, i. 367.
Syn. : — P. canescens, Roxb. 512.
Sans. : — Moochukunda.
Vern. : — Muchukunda, muskunda (B.) ; Bælo giringa (Uriya) ; Lolagu (Tel.) ; Taddo (Tam) ; Muchkand (H. and B.) ; Naji (Burm.) ; Velenge, venangu (Sing.) ; Muchkund (Marathi).
Habitat : — Western Peninsula (Konkan and Kanara). Forests of Orissa. The N. Circars ; the Carnatic; Burma. Ceylon, dry low country.
- A uv7/=4 to fi grains (Jeweller's weight in Western India.) It is the scarlet seed of Adenanthera pavonin, Linn.
