Flora Medica

ARISTOLOCHIACE^E.Nat. syst.ed. 2. p. 205.ARISTOLOCHIA.Calyx superior, tubular, coloured, permanent ; tumid, andnearly globose, at the base ;limb dilated ; either lobed andequally spreading, or unilateral and undivided. Filamentsconsolidated into a notched cup, crowning the ovary within thecalyx; anthers 6, sessile on the outer surface of the cup, eachof 2 oblong, separated, parallel, bivalve, cells.Ovary inferior,oblong, angular. Style scarcely any. Stigma nearly globular,with 6 deep lobes ;the summit concave. Capsule with 6 angles,6 cells, and 6 valves, with double partitions from their inflexedmargins. Seeds numerous in each cell, depressed, horizontal,lying over each other, triangular, with a dilated or thickenedwinged margin.702. A. bracteata Retz. obs. v. No. 80. Eoxb.fi. ind. iii.490.Cultivated ground on the coast of Coromandel.Root perennial, long, slender, simple, perpendicular, waved, withmany small fibres issuing from every part of it. Stems or branchesseveral, weak, resting on the ground, waved, striated, from 12 to 18inches long. Leaves alternate, petioled, kidney-formed, beautifully,though slightly, curled round the margin, a little rugose, glaucousunderneath ;about 2 inches each way ; petioles channelled. Flowersaxillary, single, peduncled. Peduncles drooping, with a kidney-shaped,curled, sessile bract near the base. Calyx with the upper part of thetube and tongue erect; the latter has its margins revolute; the coloura most beautiful dark purple; covered on the inside with hairs of thesame colour. Anthers 6 pairs. Capsules ovate. Roxb. Every partnauseously bitter in ; India, for a purging with gripes, two of the freshleaves are rubbed up with a little water and given to an adult for adose, once in 24 hours. Roxb. An infusion of the dried leaves isgiven as an anthelmintic ;fresh bruised and mixed with castor oil theyare considered a valuable remedy in obstinate cases of itch.703. A. indica Linn, sp.pl. 1362. Roxb. fl.ind. iii. 489.(Rheede viii. t. 25.). Copses and jungles in India, in poor soil.Root much like that of Sarsaparilla, perennial. Stem twining, belowwoody. Leaves stalked, wedge-shaped or obovate, 3-nerved, pointed,waved, scolloped, smooth, 2-4 inches long, 1-2 broad. Racemesaxillary, shorter than the leaves, with bracts. Flowers erect. Anthersin 6 pairs. Anthers oblong, pendulous.Roxb. Root nauseouslybitter; the Hindoos supposeit to possess emmenagogue and antarthriticvirtues.341 z3