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CRUCIFERAE<br />
2. Brassica integrifolia (West) O.E. Schulz ap. Symb. Antill. 3 i3): 509. 1903. (Fig. 157).<br />
Brassica juncea Hook. f. and Th.—Brassica willdenovii Boiss —Brassica orientalis Blanco—<br />
Sinapsis juncea Linn.—Sinapsis integrifolia Willd.—Sinapsis >amosa Roxb.—Sinapsis rugosa<br />
R 0xb.—Sinapsis cuneifolia Roxb.—Sinapsis brassicata Blanco—Sinapsis sinensis Blanco.<br />
Engl. Indian Mustard; Sinh. Aba; Tarn. Kadugu; Hindi Badshahirai, Barirai,<br />
Barlai. Gohnasarson. Khasrai, Rai, Sarson, Sarsonlahi. Shahzadarai; Sans. Rajika. Sarshapa.<br />
Erect, annual herb with a stem, 0.4—I m high, glabrous or with a few bristles at the base,<br />
much branched, often purplish up to the pedicels, leaves large, pinnatifid without basal lobes,<br />
terminal lobe much the largest; basal leaves long, persistent, 5—10 cm long, broadly obovate.<br />
cuneately narrowed into the petiole, unequally and more or less coarsely dentate, middle leaves<br />
oblong, upper ones linear, slightly obtuse, narrowed at base, entire, all glabrous, membranous,<br />
glaucescent; flowers regular, bisexual, yellow, 6—8 mm long, in long racemes; sepals 4,<br />
spreading, somewhat saccate at base; petals 4, obovate—spathulate; stamens 6, hypogynous,<br />
tetradynamous, the two with the shortest filaments lateral, inserted lower than others, anthers<br />
versatile; ovary superior, 2-carpeIlary, 12—18 ovuled; siliquas 1.5—3 cm" long, somewhat<br />
contracted between seeds; beak narrowly conical, seedless, nearly 1 .2cm long; seeds 1—1.3 mm<br />
diameter.<br />
Illustration. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 65. 1933.<br />
Distribution. This herb has a wide distribution. It occurs from Egypt to China and<br />
is often cultivated in India. In Ceylon, it occurs as a weed in vegetable plantations.<br />
India. Tibet: T. Thomson. Sikkim: J. D. Hooker. Punjab: 7*. Thomson. Calcutta, Bot.<br />
Card., cultivated. Ceylon. Eastern Prov., Trincomalee, Thwaites CP. 3772. Central Prov.,<br />
Haragama, Alston, Oct. 1936; Maturata, A.W.S., May 1906: Hakgala, Willis, Feb. 1906;<br />
Pattipola, Silva, May 1911.<br />
Composition. The pale yellow oil extracted from the seed contains sinigrin. The leaves<br />
contain calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B. The fixed oil is mustard oil and the volatile<br />
oil is an allyl mustard oil.<br />
Uses. A plaster of ground mustard seed applied externally relieves pain due to<br />
pleurodynia, pleuritis, hepatitis, gastralgia, colic, neuralgia, lumbago and is used as a counterirritant<br />
in inflammatory conditions of the viscera. Applied to the nape of the neck, it prevents<br />
cerebral congestion. To check convulsions in children, the patient is immersed in a mustard bath.<br />
Mustard oil and camphor is an efficacious embrocation for muscularrheumatism, stiff neck, etc.<br />
Ground mustard seed is eaten with roast meats as it stimulates secretion of gastric juices, sharpens<br />
the appetite and promotes digestion. Mustard oil is largely used in Bengal for culinary purposes.<br />
In the Philippines, the leaves are eaten as a salad. In Africa, the root is used as a galactogogue<br />
and the sun-dried leaf is smoked like hemp.<br />
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