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3. Coccinea grandis Kurz in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 102. 1877. (Fig. 161).<br />
CUCURBITACEAE<br />
Coccinea cordifotta Cogn.—Coccinea indica W.&A.—Coccinea schimperi Naud.—Coccinea<br />
wightiana Roem.—Cephalandra indica Naud.—Bryonia grandis Linn.—Bryonia palmate Wall.—<br />
Momordica monadelpha Roxb.<br />
Sinh. Kowakka, Kobowakka, Kem-wel; Tarn. Kovai. Kwai; Hindi Bhimb, Kanduri,<br />
Kunderi; Sans. Bimba, Bimbaka, Bimbi, Bimbika, Chhardini, Dantachhadopama, Govhi,<br />
Jhundikeshi, Kamboja, Karmmakari, Katubimbi, Katuka, Katutundika, Oshthi, Oshtopamaphala,<br />
Piluparni, Raktaphala, Ruchiraphala, Tiktabimbi, Tiktatundi, Tundi, Tundika, Tundikeri,<br />
Tundiparyyayaga, Vimba.<br />
A perennial climber with slender, cylindrical, glabrous stems and simple tendrils; leaves<br />
simple, alternate, 5—10 cm long, 4.5—9 cm broad, variable in form, usually broadly cordate—<br />
ovate in outline with the basal sinus triangular, obtuse, apiculate, more or less 5-lobed, distantly<br />
dentate, quite glabrous on both sides, rather succulent, dull green above, glaucous beneath,<br />
ciliate along the margin, finely punctate, provided with several large flat circular glands near<br />
the axils of veins beneath, specially at the base, petioles 2—3.2 cm long; flowers<br />
regular, unisexual white with green veins, dioecious, solitary, axillary, peduncles 1-flowered;<br />
male flowers: peduncles 4—6.5cm long,subfiliform; sepals 5, fused into a broadly campanulate<br />
glabrous calyx-tube, 4.5 mm long, calyx teeth 2.5 mm long and linear; corolla campanulate<br />
of 5, fused petals, 2.5 cm long, veined, pubescent inside, glabrous outside, segments triangular<br />
1.6 cm long; stamens 3, anthers connate, cells conduplicate, filaments free; female flowers:<br />
peduncles 3—3.5 cm long; perianth similar to male flower; staminodes 3, subulate, 2.5 mm<br />
long, hairy at base: ovary inferior, glabrous, fusiform, 1.3—1.5 cm long with parietal placentas,<br />
style short, stigmas 3, long and hairy; fruit 2.5—5 cm long, fusiform—ovoid, cylindrical,<br />
slightly beaked, marked when immature with white streaks, bright scarlet when fully ripe; seeds<br />
oblong—ovoid, much compressed, smooth, yellowish—grey.<br />
Flowers from June to August.<br />
Illustrations. Wight, III. Indian Bot. pi. 105. 1841—1850; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian<br />
Med. Plants, pi. 462/1. 1933.<br />
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon, Malaya and tropical Africa. In Ceylon,<br />
it is common in the low-country especially in dry regions in bushy places. Jaffna, Anuradhapura,<br />
Polonnaruwa, Ritigala, Hunnasgiriya, Colombo, Galle, Matara, etc.<br />
Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1609; North Central Prov. Anuradhapura, Nuwara-Wewa bund,<br />
Simpson 9360, March 1932; Polonnaruwa, Alston 571, May 1927: Ritigala, Willis, March 1905.<br />
Composition. This plant contains an enzyme, a hormone and traces of an alkaloid.<br />
Uses. The leaves are applied on eruptions of the skin such as ringworm, itch, psoriasis,<br />
etc., and the plant taken internally in decoction for gonorrhoea and diabetes. It is useful for<br />
dropsical conditions and in acute and chronic pyelitis, cystitis and strangury. It has antilithic<br />
properties of some value and is largely .employed for urinary gravel and calculi. The leaves are<br />
also cooked and eaten. The bark of the root is a good cathartic. The fruits and leaves are used<br />
in the treatment of snake-bite.<br />
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