A small, deciduous tree, with grey corky bark, ½in. thick. Wood white, moderately hard, even-grained. Extremities tomentose. Leaves opposite, distichous, 3-6 by l½-3in. elliptic, caudate, acuminate, rarely obscurely serrulate, rather membranous, velvety-tomentose often on both surfaces, always beneath, narrowed into a petiole 1/5-⅓in. long, lateral nerves 10-16 pair. Flowers lin. across, in many-flowered corymbose ; terminal cymes ; bracts deciduous. Calyx short, with 5-10 scales inside at base ; lobes rounded, half the length of the Corolla-tube. Corolla pale,
yellow with a fleshy orange-coloured corona of scales ; lobes oblong, over-lapping to the left. Stamens inserted at top of Corolla-tube ; filaments short and broad, continued into a broad —tapering connective ; anthers sagittate, by the cells being spurred at base, adherent to stigma. Ovary of 2 connate carpels. Style filiform, stigma ovoid. Fruit of 2 connate follicles, 8-12 by ½-¾in., straight, cylindric, laterally, compressed, rough, with white specks, follicles separating before dehiscing. Seeds numerous, ½-¾in., slender, each with a tuft of white silky hairs at lower end (Kanjilal). Flowers have an unpleasant smell, says Trimen, first yellowish, afterwards purple.
Uses : — A thick, red-colored medicinal oil is said to be obtained from the seeds. In Chutia Nagpur, a preparation from the bark is given in menstrual and renal complaints (Campbell).
The bark and root-bark are believed to be useful in snake-bite and scorpion stings.
762. Nerium odorum, Soland. h.f.b.i., iii. 655. Roxb. 242.
Sans. : — Karavîra.
Vern. : — Difli (Arab.); Khar-zahrah (Pers.) ; Kanér, kanél, karbêr (Hind.); Kanira, kaner, ganhira (Pb.); Kanyúr (Kumaun); Alari (Tam.) ; Gannéru (Tel.) ; Alari (Mal.) ; Kanagale (Kan.) ; Karabi (Beng.); Kanhéra (Bomb.). Haya-mâra :— Killer of the horse (Marathi.)
Habitat: — Western Himalaya, from Nepal to Murree, Central India and Sind.
