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8. Euphorbia hirta Linn. Sp. PI. 454. 1753. (Fig. 198).<br />
Euphorbia pilulifera Linn.—Euphorbia capilata Wall.<br />
EUPHORBIACEAE<br />
Sinh. Budadakiriya, Dadakiriya,' Kepunkiriya, Kiritala; Tarn. Amumpatchaiyarissi,<br />
Palavi, Patchaiyarissi; Hindi Dudhi; Sans. Pusitoa.<br />
An annual with a decumbent, ascending or erect, cylindrical, rather stout stems,<br />
15—30 cm long, covered with more or less copious spreading bristly hair; leaves simple,<br />
opposite, 1.8—3.7 cm long, 0.6—1.6 cm broad, lanceolate—oblong, very unequal sided,<br />
acute or subacute, serrate, sparingly hairy on both surfaces, dark green above, pale glaucous or<br />
pinkish with prominent veins beneath; petioles short, stipules pectinate, falling early; flowers<br />
unisexual, greenish, monoecious, small, numerous without a perianth, many males and one female<br />
arranged in a common perianth-like, small involucre; involucres numerous, crowded in small,<br />
axillary, shortly pedunculate, globose cymes, glands minute or absent; male flower of only 1,<br />
pedicelled stamen; female flower of a single, pedicelled, superior ovary, surrounded by about<br />
four male flowers, 3-locular with a single ovule in each chamber, styles 3, free or slightly connate;<br />
capsule about 1.2 mm diameter, adpressed hairy, of 3 cocci separating from a single axis and<br />
each splitting ventrally and dorsally; seeds 0.8 mm long, ovoid—trigonous, transversely wrinkled<br />
and reddish brown in colour.<br />
Flowers all the year round.<br />
Illustrations. Burmann, Thes. Zeyl. pis. 104 and 105,/. I., 1737; Kirtikar and Basu,<br />
Indian Med. Plants, pi. 846/4. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.<br />
Distribution. Occurs throughout the warmer parts of India, Ceylon and in most tropical<br />
countries including Philippine Islands. It is a common weed in Ceylon.<br />
India. Plan. Ganget. Sup., 7". Thomson; Canara, Talbot, July 1882; Maisor and Carnatic,<br />
G. Thomson. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 3337; Senaratne 3109. Central Prov., Peradeniya, Herb.<br />
Peradeniya, Nov. 1890; Jayaweera 2249, May 1957; Pallekellay Estate, Livera, July 1922.<br />
Maldive Islands. Did! 104, 1896; Gardiner, 1899—1900. Laccadive Islands. Minikoy, H. M. I. M.<br />
"Investigatsr", Dec. 1891.<br />
Composition. The plant contains the alkaloid xanthorhamnine, gallic acid, quercetin,<br />
a phenolic substance, triacontane, euphosterol, phytosterol, a phytosterolin, jambulol, and<br />
melissic acid. Both vegetative and reproductive organs yield hydrocyanic acid.<br />
Uses. The fluid extract of this plant is used to relieve the difficulty of breathing in asthma,<br />
bronchitis and in pulmonary, cardiac disease, angina pectoris. It is also a useful remedy for<br />
acute and chronic dysentery. The latex is applied externally on ringworm. In India, the plant<br />
is largely used in bowel complaints and chest affections in children. In the Philippines, the<br />
leaves are mixed with leaves and flowers of Datura metel for preparation of asthma-cigarettes.<br />
In Ghana, the plant is ground with water and used as'an enema for constipation. In Brazil, it<br />
is used in decoction for gonorrhoea and for asthma. The roots are employed for intermittent<br />
fevers. The milky juice of the plant is dropped into the eye for conjunctivitis and ulcerated<br />
cornea. In Africa, it is employed as a remedy for gonorrhoea and the latex as an<br />
opthalmic remedy.<br />
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