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U Euphoribta Ihymifolia Linn. Sp. Pi. 454. 1753. (Fig. 201).<br />
EUPHORBIACEAE<br />
Euphorbia burmanniana J.Gray—Euphorbia prostata Gran.—Euphorbia rubicunda Bl.—<br />
Euphorbia foliata Hamilt.—Euphorbia maculata Auld.—Anisophyllum thymifolium Klotzsch and<br />
Gareke—Anisophyllum burmannianum Kiozsch and Gareke<br />
Sinh. Bindadakiriya; Tarn. Chinamampatchaiyausi, Sittrapaladi, Chittirapalavi; Hindi<br />
Chhotidudhi, Chothadudhi; Sans. Laghudugdhika, Raktavindachada.<br />
A small, annual herb with depressed-prostrate, cylindrical, divaricately branched, hairy<br />
stems; leaves simple, opposite, very small, 0.4—0.8 cm long, 2.5—4 mm broad, oblong—<br />
oval, rounded and very oblique at the base, rounded at apex, dentate—serrate, glabrous above,<br />
glaucous and slightly hairy beneath; petioles very short; stipules minute, fimbriate; flower<br />
heads very small, sessile, 1—3 in an axil; flowers unisexual, pinkish, monoecious, small without<br />
a perianth, one female and many males arranged in a common perianth-like, hairy, companulate<br />
involucre without or with very minute glands at the mouth, lobes very short; male flower consisting<br />
of a single pedicelled stamen and the female a single superior ovary, all together in the<br />
involucre, ovary 3-locular with a single ovule in each chamber, styles 3, short, 2-f td.; fruit capsule<br />
1.5 mm long, pubescent, of 3 cocci separating from a central axis, each obtusely keeled; seeds<br />
1.2 mm long, quadrangular with 5 or 6 transverse furrows.<br />
Flowers all the year round.<br />
Illustrations. Burmann, Thes. Zeyl. pi. 105, f. 2. 1737; Kiriikar and Basu, Indian Med.<br />
Plants, pi. 847. 1933.<br />
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon and in all other tropical countries, except<br />
N. Australia. It is a common weed in waste and cultivated ground in Ceylon. Kalutara,<br />
Haragama, etc.<br />
India. Maisor and Carnatic, G. Thomson. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 2128 Central Prov.,<br />
Peradeniya Herb. Peradeniya, April 1895; Bot. Gard., Jayaweera 2251, May 1957; Jayaweera<br />
2255, Nov. 1955; Jayaweera 606, April 1953. Maldive Islands. Veimandu, Gardiner, 1899—1900.<br />
Composition. Contains a crystalline alkaloid principle, allied toquercetin.<br />
Uses. The leaves are employed as a poultice to counteract the effects of bites<br />
of poisonous snakes. The expressed juice of the plant is given with wine for the same purpose.<br />
In La Reunion and Java, it is used as an astringent ford'arrhoea and dysentery. A decoction of<br />
the root is given for amenorrhoea. The leaves and seeds are given in powderform for worms<br />
and bowel complaints in children. The latex is a cure for ringworm. Burkill says that poultices<br />
of leaves are applied over dislocated joints and skin complaints. In North India it is considered<br />
a stimulant and laxative.<br />
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