Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Araliaceæ
N. 0. ARALIACEÆ.
586. Aralia Pseudo-ginseng, Benth, h.f.b.i., ii. 721.
Habitat : — Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhotan. Khasia Mts. " Doubtfully separable from the true Ginseng of Japan " (Fl. Br. I, p. 721).
Herbs l-2ft., with a whole of digitate leaves at its apex. Root-stock horizontal, tuberous or tuberiterous. Stem '6-15 in , erect smooth ; the scale at base deciduous, or persistent. Leaflets lanceolate, with scattered bristles, especially on the upper surface, 5, rarely 3, 2-6 by ½-1¼in., acuminate, often caudate, rounded or tapering at the base, closely serrate or deeply double serrate, glabrous, except the scattered bristles. Petiole l-6in., glabrous. Petiolules 0-lin. Peduncles shorter or longer than the leaves, glabrous or nearly so, solitary or 2-4, simple or with 2-5 umbellate heads; pedicels ¼-lin., pubescent or puberulous ; bracteoles ¼in., narrow lanceolate-linear.
Flowers polygamo-monœious ; styles 2-3, in the male sometimes united nearly to their summit Fruit red or half black, half-red, shining, globose, sub-didymous.
Use : — Ginseng enjoys in its native country the reputation of a panacea, and especially of being aphrodisiac, The affections, for the cure of which it is most esteemed, are such as are usually treated by aromatic stimulants, including dyspepsia, vomiting, and nervous affections. It is used as a masticatory and also in infusion, and is occasionally brought to India by the Chinese.
587. Hedera Helix, Linn., h.f.b.l, ii. 739.
Vern. : — Dûdela (Nepal) ; Lablab (Behar) ; Halbambar, arbambal (Jhelum) ; Kurol. (Chenab) ; Kuri, Karur (Ravi) ; Brûmbrûm dakâri (Beas) ; Karburu (Sutlej) Pb.
Habitat : —Himalayas ; Khasia Hills.
A glabrous, large, evergreen, woody climber, adhering to trees, rocks or walls by means of numerous extra-axillary fine rootlets. Leaves simple, leathery, 3-4in., dark-green and shining above, varying from linear-lanceolate to cordate-ovate, entire or variously-lobed, palmate or sub-pinnatifid ; base cordate, rounded or cuneate ; petiole ½-1¼in., slender. Flowers polygamous, yellowish green, in pedunculate globose umbels, which again are arranged in sub-corymbose panicles ; peduncles 1-2 in., pedicels 5-8in. long, both clothed with stellate scales. Calyx 5-toothed or nearly entire. Petals 5, valvate. Stamens 5, Ovary 5-celled ; style connate in a short column. Fruit *25-'3in. diam., globose, yellow, turning black when fully ripe, shining ; seeds 3-4 ovoid (Kanjilal.)
Wood light-grey or yellow, soft and porous. Annual rings distinct. Flowers— October, April, February, Jan. -June.
Uses : — Dry leaves are used to stimulate sores ; and the berries to purge (Irvine).
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