,r\/*> - National Science Foundation
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CUCURBITACEAE<br />
6. Corallocarpus epigaeus C.B. Clarke in Hook, f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:628. 1879. (Fig. 164).<br />
Aechmoiuira epigaea Arn.— Bryonia epigaea Roll!. — Bryonia glabra Roxb.—Bryonia sinuata<br />
vVall.<br />
Sinh. Gopalanga: Tarn. Akashagarudan. Gollankovai; Hindi Akasgaddah. Rakasgaddah:<br />
Sans. Katunahi, Patala-garadan.<br />
A perennial, tendril climber with a large, 'turnip-shaped root and succulent, prostrate,<br />
zig-zag, glabrous and glaucous stems; tendrils simple, slender, glabrous: leaves simple,<br />
alternate, rather small. 2.5—3.7 cm long, rotundate. very cordate at base, more or less 3-or<br />
5-lobed with obtuse or acute, irregularly dentate lobes, shortly and roughly pubescent on both<br />
surfaces, rather thick; petioles more than half the length of the leaf, stout, glabrous: flowers<br />
regular, yellowish-green, unisexual, monoecious, male flowers on shortly pedicelled, straight<br />
pedunculate, stiff corymbs, female flowers solitary; sepals 5, fused into a campanulate calyx,<br />
segments very small; petals 5, very slightly connected at the base; male flowers: stamens 3,<br />
inserted at the mouth of the caly.x-tube, filaments very short, anthers distinct, cells straight without<br />
connective: female flowers: ovary inferior, ovoid, 2-locular, style long, stigma large<br />
and 2-lobed; fruit 1.8—2.5 cm long, ovoid with a blunt beak, smooth, scarlet in the middle<br />
with base and beak dark green, dehiscent by a circular line at junction of red and green portions<br />
near the base; seeds about 9 in orange coloured pulp, very slightly.compressed, pale brown,<br />
adpressed pilose.<br />
Flowers from January to March.<br />
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pi. 503. 1840—43; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian<br />
Med. Plants, pi. 4hi •(. 1933: Herb. Peradeniya. drawing.<br />
Distribution. Occurs in India and Ceylon. In Ceylon, it is rather common in the dry<br />
districts such as Mannar, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, etc.<br />
Ceylon. Northern Prov., Mannar Dist., Mantai, Herb. Peradeniya Feb. 1890. North<br />
Central Prov., Anuradhapura. Puliyankulama, Alston 1254, March 1927. Central Prov.,<br />
Dambulla, Thwaites CP. 1622; Uma Oya, Herb. Peradeniya April 1883.<br />
Uses. This herb is prescribed in the later stages of dysentery and for chronic venereal<br />
complaints. It is considered anthelmintic and sometimes used externally in chronic rheumatism.<br />
The root is usually given for syphilitic rheumatism and possesses laxativt properties. It has<br />
a reputation as a snake-bite cure in Decca and Mysore.<br />
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