tapat, kashta, bhungi or banpat (B.) ; Bun-pat (Sind) ; Ban-phal (N.-W. P. and Pb.) ; Peratti-kirai (Tam.) ; Parinta (Tel.)Tánkla, Chunch; Mothi Chûnch (Bombay.)
Habitat : — Indigenous in many parts of India. Low country weed in Ceylon.
An annual herb, more or less covered with stellate pubescence. Leaves 2-4 by 1-2 in., nearly glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, 3-5-nerved, serrate, the two lower serratures prolonged into a long sharp point ; petiole 1-2 in., pilose. Stipules shorter than the petioles. Peduncles 1-3-flowered ; shorter than the petiole. Sepals small, shortly-pointed. Petals yellow, spathulate, longer than the sepals. Fruit a capsule 2 in. long, cylindric, glabrous, 10-ribbed, " 10-12-times longer than broad." (Arnold). Beak entire. Valves with transverse partitions between the seeds, beak long, erect. Cultivated as a potherb, or for its fibre (Jute). The very soft pithy wood is used for county-made sulphur-tipped matches.
Parts used: — The leaves, seeds.
Uses : — The leaves and tender shoots are eaten, and in the dried state, known as nalita ; they are used in infusion by the natives as a domestic medicine, being tonic and slightly febrifuge, and hence used as a fever drink (Watt.) According to Ainslie, the Hindoos reduce the plant to ashes and mix it with honey for administration in obstructions of the abdominal viscera.
Twining speaks favorably of an infusion of the leaves as a useful fever drink.
Mr. Atkinson says : — The leaves are emollient, and used in infusion as refrigerant in fevers and special diseases. The dried plant roasted and powdered, is used in visceral obstructions.
Dr. Kanay Lall Dey says : — The dried leaves are sold in the market. A cold infusion is used as a bitter tonic, and is devoid of any stimulating property. It can be safely given to patients recovering from acute dysentery to restore the appetite, and improve the strength. Six grains of the powder, combined with an equal quantity of curcuma longa,
