Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

is comparatively less toxic. It is
found useful in paresis and paralysis
following infectious diseases and
physical disorders. (The plant can
replace strychnine and nux-vomica
in medicinal preparations.)
A related species, Securinega virosa
(Roxb. ex Willd.) Baillon, distributed
throughout India up to an altitude of
2,000 m, gave securinine as the main
alkaloid, along with virosecurinine and
viroallosecurinine, and a coumarin,
bergenin. The root bark contains an
alkaloid, virosine. Whole root contains
alkaloids, hordenine (flueggeine)
and nor-securinine. A decoction of
the root is given to induce sleep and
for fever; that of bark in diarrhoea and
pneumonia. The leaves are reported to
be given in venereal diseases.
Selaginella involvens Spring.
Family ◮ Selaginellaceae.
Habitat ◮ Hilly regions of India at
altitudes of 1,000–2,000 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kara-jodi-kanda (related
species).
Folk ◮ Hatthaa jodi (related species).
Action ◮ Used as an age-sustaining
tonic. The original source is S.
rupestris Spring.
Selaginella rupestris Spring.
Family ◮ Selaginellaceae.
Habitat ◮ Indian gardens, as
ornaments.
Selenicereus grandiflorus Britton & Rose. 595
English ◮ Little Clubmoss.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kara-jodi-Kanda.
Folk ◮ Hatthaajodi.
Action ◮ Plant—a decoction is
prescribed as a tonic and protective
medicine after child birth; also as
a sedative.
S. tamariscina Spring var. pulvinata
(Kumaon to Assam), known as Hatthaajodi,
is used as an age-sustaining
tonic and has been credited with the
property of prolonging life. A decoction
is prescribed for amenorrhoea,
bleeding piles and prolapse of rectum.
A decoction of S. wallichii Spring
(hilly regions of north-eastern India),
knownasHatthaajodi,isprescribed
after childbirth. S. willdenovii Baker
(Nicobar Islands) is also known as
Hatthaajodi. Its infusion is administered
in cases of high fever and ashes
are used in a liniment for backache.
Selenicereus grandiflorus
Britton & Rose.
Synonym ◮ Cereus grandiflorus Mill.
Family ◮ Cactaceae.
Habitat ◮ Indigenous to Mexico;
introduced in Indian gardens.
English ◮ Night-Blooming Cereus,
Sweet-scented Cactus.
Ayurvedic ◮ Visarpin, Mahaapushpa,
Raatripraphulla.
Action ◮ Flowers and tender shoots—
cardiac stimulant and diuretic (used
forirritablebladderandcongested
kidneys), central nervous system
stimulant.
S