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14. Ipomoea pes-tlgridis Linn. Sp. PI. 162. 1753. (Fig 153).<br />
CONVOLVULACEAE<br />
Convolvulus pts-figridis Spreng.—Convolvulus bryon'taefolius Salisb - -Convolvulus pj/mata<br />
Moench.— Ipomoea hepaticae/olio Linn.<br />
Engl. Tiger's Foot. Bindweed; Sinh. Diviadiya. Divipahuru: Tarn. Pulichovadi.<br />
Punaikkirai: Sans. Chakra.<br />
An annual, prostrate, twining or straggling herb with long, spreading hair*, leaves<br />
simple, alternate without stipules, 3.5—7.5 cm long, and as broad, rotundale in outline, more<br />
or less deeply and palmately cut into 5, 7 or 9 ovate—acute lobes narrowed at base, hairy on both<br />
sides; petioles 2.3—6.5 cm long with long hair; flowers regular, bisexual, sessile, 2 or more<br />
in a head, bracts oblong-oval, or ovate-oblong, obtuse, hairy, outer ones nearly 2.5 cm long,<br />
inner ones 1 cm long, peduncle 2.5—7 5 cm long, stout, very hairy; sepals 5, imbricate, nearly<br />
equal, 8—12 mm long, lanceolate, very acuminate with copious, long hair, two outer sepals<br />
broader than the inner ones; petals 5, fused into a tubular—campanulate corolla 4 cm long,<br />
limb 2.5 cm diameter, white or pale pink,; stamens 5, filaments usually unequal on the corollatube;<br />
ovary superior, 2-locular with two ovules in each chamber, style simple, stigmas 2, globose;<br />
fruit capsule glabrous concealed in a persistent, hairy calyx, 6—7 mm long, globose;<br />
seeds 4.5 mm long, triquetrous with one phase rounded, pubescent.<br />
Flowers in October.<br />
Illustrations. Rheede, Hort. Ind. Mai. II: p/. 59. 1678—1703; Wight, Ic. PI. Ind.<br />
Orient. 3: pi. 836. 1843—1845; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 664. 1933; Herb.<br />
Peradeniya., drawing.<br />
Distribution. Occurs in India, Ceylon, Malaya, China, Polynesia, Philippine Islands<br />
and in tropical Africa. In Ceylon, it is common in the low-country, confined to dry, sandy places.<br />
India. Ganget. Plain., T. Thomson. Maisor and Carnatic, G. Thomson. Ceylon. Thwaites<br />
CP. 1942. North Western Prov., Mannar, Herb. Peradeniya., Feb. 1890. North Central Prov.,<br />
Polonnaruwa, Senaratne 3497, June 1943. Southern Prov., Hambantota, Ruhuna <strong>National</strong><br />
Park , Fosberg 50225, April 1968.<br />
Uses. The root of this plant is a purgative. The leaves are used for poulticing sores,<br />
boils and carbuncles. The plant is also used for treatment of rabid dog bites. It is a nervine<br />
and muscular tonic and is used in neurasthenia, debility of old age and paralytic conditions.<br />
It has some aphrodisiacal properties.<br />
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