Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/362

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282
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


245. — A. malabarica, D. C. h.f.b.i., i. 518.

Vern. of the resin : — Mudde-dhûpa, bâgâ-dhupa (Bom.); Peru, peru-marattup-pattai, maddi-pâl (Tam.); Perumarum, pedda-mânu-patta, maddi-palu (Tel.) : Mattip-pâl (Mâl.) ; Guggula- dhûp, ud (Mar.); Dhûp, baga-dhûp (Kan.); Ladan (Dec.) Kumbalu, Walbilin (Sin.)

Habitat : — Western Peninsula, in Canara. Ceylon low country of the moist regions. Cochin China.

A lofty tree, with straight trunk and rough bark ; branch-lets, with large closely placed leaf-scars. Young parts pubescent, with fine simple stellate hairs. Wood very light soft spongy. Leaves very large, 1½-2ft., crowded, spreading, pinnate ; rachis cylindric, with a raised line along upper side, very finely stellate- pubescent, much thickened at base ; leaflets 16-20, distant, opposite or sub-opposite, shortly stalked, 3-5in., ovate-oblong, tapering, acute, unequal at base, with upper half larger and rounded, and lower half acute, entire, margin slightly reflexed, glabrous, glaucous beneath, rather thick. Flowers white, small ; the bisexual, rather larger than the male, numerous, pedicellate, in long, loose, stalked, axillary panicles. Calyx small, hairy, segments acute. Stamens exceeding petals. Ovary ovoid, glabrous. Samara 2½-3in., flat, oblong, obtuse at both ends, papery, glabrous, with the seed about the middle. Seed much compressed, circular.

Trimen says : " The bark is tonic and febrifuge. A brown, fragrant, resinous exudation is given by the inner bark, and is used in Dysentery as well as material for incense."

Parts used : — The bark, fruit and gum.

Uses : — The bark is given in dyspepsia, and is also considered a valuable tonic and febrifuge. It yields a fragrant resin, which, reduced to powder, mixed with milk and strained, is given in small doses in dysentery, and also in bronchitis, and is reputed to be an excellent remedy, chiefly owing to its balsamic properties. " The fruit, triturated with mango, and mixed with rice, is reckoned useful in cases of ophthalmia, and the juice of the fresh bark, in 1 ounce doses with an equal