N. 0. EUPHORBIACEÆ 1173
Uses:— The seeds are used as a drastic purgative, but in over-doses are an acro-narcotic poison; they are sometimes used as a substitute for Croton Tiglium. They are also used externally as a stimulant and rubefacient. The oil is a powerful hydragogue cathartic and is useful for external
application in rheumatism. Madden states that to the east of the Sutlej its leaves are in high repute for wounds, and its sap is believed to corrode iron. The root is considered cathartic, and is used in dropsy, anasarca, and jaundice.
"A decoction of the leave said to be useful in asthma." (Asst.-Surg. Bhagwan Das, Râwal Pindi, Punjab.)
1160. Tragia involucrata, Linn., H.F.B.I., V 465 ; Roxb. 652.
Sans. :— Vrischi-kali.
Vern. :— Barhanta (H.) ; Bichati (B.) ; Kan churi (Tam.); Sengel, sing (Santal) ; Kinch-kure (Deccan); Kánch kûri, kháj-kolti (Bomb. ) ; China-dúla gondi, révati-dula gondi, truna-dula, gondi, duruda-gunti, tella-dura dagondi (Tel.).
Habitat :— Throughout India, from the Punjab and Lower Himalaya of Kumaon, eastward to Assam, and southward to Burma, Travancore and Ceylon.
A perennial, evergreen twiner, more or less pubescent or hispid and with scattered stinging bristles, rarely almost glabrous. Leaves from linear-oblong to broadly ovate-cordate, acuminate, serrate, and from entire to deeply 3-fid or tripartite, with irregularly serrate or sub-pinnatifid lobes, l-4in., membranous, protean in form. (J. D. Hooker.) Racemes l-2in., slender, hispid or glabrous. Bracts small or minute. Male flowers minute, shortly pedicelled, sepals and stamens 3 ; pistillode 3-fid. Female flowers strigosely hispid, fruiting ¾in. diam., stellately rigid, spreading, oblong, pinnatifid, rarely sub-entire.
Uses : — The root is valued in febricula and in itching of the skin. (Rheede). The Vytians reckon it amongst those medicines which they conceive to possess virtues in altering and correcting the habit, in cases of maygham (cachexia) and in old venereal
