sharp yellow spine about lin. long in the axil, tapering at both ends, sparsely hispid on both sides, spinous ciliate (Trimen). Flowers, bright purple-blue, occasionally white ; 8 (in 4 pair) at each node. Bracts like the leaves, but smaller ; bractlets linear, hyaline below, bristly hairy on back. Sepals 4, shorter than bractlets, equal, narrow, but one much broader than the rest ; hyaline with long hair outside. Corolla glabrous, lobes
oblong, truncate. Anther oblong, subequal. Capsule ⅓in., shorter than the sepals, linear-oblong, 4-8-seeded.
Uses : — In Hindu medicine, the leaves are described as cooling and useful in jaundice and anasarca. The root is also considered cooling, bitter and tonic, and is used in rheumatism, urinary affections and anasarca. The ashes also used as diuretic in dropsy (Dutt). The Mahomedan physicians consider the seeds as aphrodisiac (Dymock.)
Dr. Kirkpatrick (Cat. of Mysore Drugs, No u 451) states that he frequently employed it in dropsical cases, and that it undoubtedly possesses considerable power as a diuretic. Dr. Gibson also bears testimony to its powers as a diuretic ; and it is favourably reported on by Dr. Æ. Ross and Native Surgeon Iyaswamy (Ph. Ind.).
The seeds are given for gonorrhœa, and with milk and sugar in spermatorrhœa.
When placed in the mouth they immediately become coated with a large quantity of extremely tenacious mucilage, which adheres to the tongue and palate and is of rather agreeable flavour. The seeds are one of Panchavija, or "five seeds" the others being those of Celastrus, Fenugreek, Ajwan, and Cumin. There are, however, several other sets of five seeds.
The seeds are glutinous, besides being mucilaginous. They contain 4.92 per cent, of nitrogen, which is equivalent to 31.14 per cent, of albuminoids, traces of an alkaloid, and 23 per cent, of a yellow fixed oil. The mucilage is not affected by ferric chloride, plumbic acetate, or by two volumes of alcohol. (Pharmacogr. Ind., III 39-40.)
914. Ruellia prostrata; lamk, h.f.b.l, iv. 411 ; Roxb. 473.
Vern. :— Upu-dali (Mal.).
Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula, extending north to Behar,
