,r\/*> - National Science Foundation

CRUCIFERAE
2. Brassica integrifolia (West) O.E. Schulz ap. Symb. Antill. 3 i3): 509. 1903. (Fig. 157).
Brassica juncea Hook. f. and Th.—Brassica willdenovii Boiss —Brassica orientalis Blanco—
Sinapsis juncea Linn.—Sinapsis integrifolia Willd.—Sinapsis >amosa Roxb.—Sinapsis rugosa
R 0xb.—Sinapsis cuneifolia Roxb.—Sinapsis brassicata Blanco—Sinapsis sinensis Blanco.
Engl. Indian Mustard; Sinh. Aba; Tarn. Kadugu; Hindi Badshahirai, Barirai,
Barlai. Gohnasarson. Khasrai, Rai, Sarson, Sarsonlahi. Shahzadarai; Sans. Rajika. Sarshapa.
Erect, annual herb with a stem, 0.4—I m high, glabrous or with a few bristles at the base,
much branched, often purplish up to the pedicels, leaves large, pinnatifid without basal lobes,
terminal lobe much the largest; basal leaves long, persistent, 5—10 cm long, broadly obovate.
cuneately narrowed into the petiole, unequally and more or less coarsely dentate, middle leaves
oblong, upper ones linear, slightly obtuse, narrowed at base, entire, all glabrous, membranous,
glaucescent; flowers regular, bisexual, yellow, 6—8 mm long, in long racemes; sepals 4,
spreading, somewhat saccate at base; petals 4, obovate—spathulate; stamens 6, hypogynous,
tetradynamous, the two with the shortest filaments lateral, inserted lower than others, anthers
versatile; ovary superior, 2-carpeIlary, 12—18 ovuled; siliquas 1.5—3 cm" long, somewhat
contracted between seeds; beak narrowly conical, seedless, nearly 1 .2cm long; seeds 1—1.3 mm
diameter.
Illustration. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 65. 1933.
Distribution. This herb has a wide distribution. It occurs from Egypt to China and
is often cultivated in India. In Ceylon, it occurs as a weed in vegetable plantations.
India. Tibet: T. Thomson. Sikkim: J. D. Hooker. Punjab: 7*. Thomson. Calcutta, Bot.
Card., cultivated. Ceylon. Eastern Prov., Trincomalee, Thwaites CP. 3772. Central Prov.,
Haragama, Alston, Oct. 1936; Maturata, A.W.S., May 1906: Hakgala, Willis, Feb. 1906;
Pattipola, Silva, May 1911.
Composition. The pale yellow oil extracted from the seed contains sinigrin. The leaves
contain calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B. The fixed oil is mustard oil and the volatile
oil is an allyl mustard oil.
Uses. A plaster of ground mustard seed applied externally relieves pain due to
pleurodynia, pleuritis, hepatitis, gastralgia, colic, neuralgia, lumbago and is used as a counterirritant
in inflammatory conditions of the viscera. Applied to the nape of the neck, it prevents
cerebral congestion. To check convulsions in children, the patient is immersed in a mustard bath.
Mustard oil and camphor is an efficacious embrocation for muscularrheumatism, stiff neck, etc.
Ground mustard seed is eaten with roast meats as it stimulates secretion of gastric juices, sharpens
the appetite and promotes digestion. Mustard oil is largely used in Bengal for culinary purposes.
In the Philippines, the leaves are eaten as a salad. In Africa, the root is used as a galactogogue
and the sun-dried leaf is smoked like hemp.
121