tied up in a cloth for fomentation or applied as a lep to bruises (Dymock). The root in decoction is considered very beneficial in excessive menstrual discharge (Drury).
N. 0. LYTHRACEÆ.
510. Ammania baccifera, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 569.
Syn. : — A. vesicatoria, Roxb. 143.
Vern. : — Dâdmâri ; Jangali mehndee (H.) ; Dader-bootie (Pb.) ; Kallar-vanchi (Mai.) ; Ban-marich ; Aginbuti, Guren, Bhâra jambol (Bomb, and Dec.) ; Kallu rivi, Nirumel-neruppu (Tam.) ; Agni vendra paku (Tel.).
Habitat : — Very common throughout Tropical India.
Annual glabrous herbs, growing in damp places ; erect, 6-8in,, sometimes 2ft. Lower leaves and branches usually opposite ; cauline leaves l-2½in., usually narrow, but obtuse. Opposite or alternate, elliptic, narrowed at the base. Flowers in dense clusters forming knots on the stem or in loose, but very short axillary cymes. Calyx- tube hemispherical; teeth 4, broad, triangular, accessory folds or teeth small. Petals usually or small. Capsule globose, depressed, imperfectly circumsciss above the middle. Seeds black, sub-hemispheric, excavated on the plane face (C. B. Clarke),
Use : — The leaves are exceedingly acrid ; they are used universally by the natives to raise blisters in rheumatic pains, fevers, &c. The fresh leaves, bruised and applied to the part intended to be blistered, perform their office in the course of half-an-hour or a little more, and most effectually (Roxburgh). The leaves are applied to cure herpetic eruptions (Fleming).
In the Concan, the juice is given with water to animals when in heat, to extinguish sexual appetite. The plant, fresh or dried, is administered in decoction with ginger and Cyperus root for intermittent fevers, and its ashes are mixed with oil and applied to herpetic eruptions (Dymock).
We made trials of this article in eight instances ; blisters were not produced in less than 12 hours in any, and in three
