(H.); Chûlü-Kâ-Bânda (Jaunsar); Hurchu (Nepal) ; Perbika (Rawalpindi).
Habitat :— Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Nepal.
A large, parasitic, leafy shrub, green all over. Branches dichotomous or whorled, jointed, terete. Leaves about 2 by 2/5in., sessile, very coriaceous, cuneate, oblong or oblanceolate, with 3 to 5 longitudinal basal nerves. Flowers dioecious, sessile in clusters of 3 to 5, supported by concave bracts. Perianth-segments 3-4, triangular, deciduous. Fruit 1/5-3/10in. long, ellipsoid, white, smooth, almost transparent. Chiefly on rosaceous shrubs, such as apricot and on elm, walnut and willows. ( U. Kanjilal.) Bird lime is made of the viscid pulp of the fruit. The parasite is also found on the Alder, Maple, Poplar, Olive and Mulberry. ( Gamble. ) Embryos sometimes 2-3in. each ; seed, terete, in fleshy albumen.
Uses : — Mr. Honigberger states that it is given by the Hakims in enlargement of the spleen, in cases of wound, tumour, diseases of the ear, etc. The dried berries imported into Bombay under the name of Kishmish-i-kâwuliyân (vulg., Kishmish-kawli) are probably obtained from this plant. The plant is used as a medicine in Lahoul. (Stewart.)
It contains a liquid volatile base, C8H11N, with an odour resembling that of nicotine or of coniine. It forms a crystalline sulphate, a very deliquescent crystalline hydrochloride, and a more stable platino-chloride ( C8H11N, Hcl) 2 Ptcl4, in yellowish, shining, micaceous scales, darkening at 230 °C, and melting, with decomposition, at about 250° C. The base is extracted from the dry plant by means of 95 per cent, alcohol, acidified with 1 per cent, of hydro-chloric acid. After distilling off the solvent, the residual extract is made alkaline with sodium carbonate and distilled. The alkaline distillate is saturated with sulphuric acid, evaporated in vacuo, and the sulphate of the alkaloid crystallised in the usual manner. It also contains a viscachoutin, viscic acid, a glucoside, and a resinoid substance. (J. Ch. I. Jan. 31, 1908, p. 88.)
1107. V. monoicum, Roxb. h.f.b.i., v. 224 ; Roxb. 715.
Vern. :— Kuchle-kâ-malang (Hind.); Kuchlê-kî-sonkan (Dec); Pullurivi (Tel.); Uchchichedi, Kâmaricham ; Pulluri (Tam.) ; Kâsarakana-bandanige (Kan.); Pet chamra banda (Santal)
