532. L. acutangula, Roxb. h.f.b.i., ii. 615 ; Roxb. 698.
Sans. : — Jhingâka=
Vern. : — Turai (H.) ; Jhingé (B.) ; Peekunkai (Tam.) ; Pee-chenggah (Mal.); Beerkai (Tel.) ; Janhi (Uriya) ; Paror jhinga (Santal.); Rám-toroi (Nepal); Turi (Sind.) ; Dorka (C. P.); Shirolâ (Mar.) ; Turin, Guisoda (Guz.).
Habitat : — North- West India; Sikkim ; Assam and Plains of East Bengal.
Extensively climbing, hairy annuals ; tendrils 2-3-fid. Leaves 4in. diam., reniform-orbicular, 5-angied or somewhat 5-lobed, dentate, usually scabrous, punctate on both surfaces, pubescent in nerves beneath ; petiole 2in. Male peduncles 6in., flowers often approximate near the summit; pedicels short, each carrying a small, entire, viscid bract, sometimes obsolete. Petals 5, obovate, united ; stamens 3. Female flowers solitary ; peduncle l-3in. Fruit 5-10 inches, often 2-ft. long, 10-angled, not covered with spines or papilæ. Seeds numerous, close-packed, scarcely ¼in. The flowers open in the afternoon.
Use : — The seeds possess purgative and emetic properties and also yield an oil.
The pounded leaves are applied locally to splenitis, hæmorrhoids and leprosy (Emerson). The juice of the fresh leaves is dropped into the eyes of children in granular conjunctivitis, also to prevent the lids adhering at night from excessive meibomian secretion (P. Kinsley in Watt's Dictionary).
533. L. acutangula, Var : — Amara, h.f.b.i., ii. 615; Roxb 699.
Sans. : — Koshátaki.
Vern. : — Rarvi-turai (H.) ; Ghoshalata, Kerula, Tetodhoon- dhool (B.); Ran-turai; Kadu-sirolâ, Kadu-dokra (Bomb.); Sendu- beer-kai (Tel.).
Habitat :— Nearly all India, especially the Western side.
Exceedingly near L. acutangula, but distinguished by the leaves a little smaller and sometimes whitish. The typical L. amara has the leaves softly pubescent at least while young, for they become in age scabrous (C. B. Clarke).
