,r\/*> - National Science Foundation

21. Pbytlanthus reticularus Poir., Encyc. Method. 5: 298. 1804. (Fig. 211).
EUPHORBIACEAE
Kirganelia UneaJa (Willd.) Als.—Kirganelia reticulata Baill.—Kirganelia multiflora Thw.—
Phyllanthus multiflorus Willd.—Phyllanthus chamissonis Klotzsch—Andisonema multiftorum
Wight—Cicca decandra Blanco—Rhamnus zeylanicus Burm.—Rhamnus vitisidaea Burm. f.—
Zizyphus lineatus Willd.
Sinh. Wclkayila; Tarn. Abirangi, Karuppuppilanji, Karunelli, Kattukkilanelli,
Melanelli, Mippullanti, Nirppul, Nirppula, Nirppulanji, Pul, Pula, Pulanji, Pula-vayr, Pullanti;
Hindi Buinowla, Kalemadhkaper, Makhi, Panjoli, Panjuli; Sans. Bah up raj a, Bahupushpa,
Kamboji, Kambojini, Krishnakambhoji.
A climbing or straggling shrub, 2.5—3 m tall, with lenticellate branches and finely
pubescent or glabrous shoots; leaves simple, alternate, distichous, 1.8—3.7 cm long,
0.8—2 cm broad, variable, lanceolate or oblong oval or nearly rotundate on short petioles,
obtuse or acute, rather thin, glabrous or slightly pubescent, somewhat paler beneath; stipules
small, subulate, persistent; flowers regular, unisexual, monoecious, pink, apetalous; male
flowers: in clusters of 2—6; sepals 5, distinct, imbricate, very obtuse, segments alternating with
glands of the disc; stamens 5, the three inner filaments connate into a short column, the two outer
free and shorter, pistillode absent; female flowers: solitary, sepals 5 or 6, very obtuse, persistent;
ovary superior, 4-or 5-locular with two ovules in each loculus, styles 3, stigmas very small;
fruit berry about 06 cm long, fleshy, depressed—globose, .smooth and shining, purplish-black;
seeds usually 10, two superposed in each chamber.
Flowers all the year round.
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pi. 1899. 1852; Burmann, Thes. Zeyl. pi. 88.
1737; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 857. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. Occurs in India; Ceylon, Burma extending eastwards to S. China and southwards
through Malaya to Timor, Celebes and Philippine Islands. It is also found in tropical
Africa. It is very common in Ceylon in the low-country, especially in the dry regions.
India. Bengal. Masters. Assam: Masters. Behar: J. D. Hooker. Nilghiris: Schmid,
1818—1835. Pen. Ind. Orient., Herb. Wight 2581, Kew Distribution 1866—68. Ceylon. Thwaites
CP. 2142, North-Western Prov., Batalagoda, Alston, Sep. 1927. Western Prov., Narahenpita,
A.O.W.D., May 1954. Southern Prov., Tissamaharama, Alston 1091, Jan. 1927.
Composition. The leaves contain tannic acid and a crystalline principle-
Uses. A decoction of the bark is used as an astringent and diuretic and that of the roots
is prescribed for asthma. In Ghana, the juice of the stem is blown into sore eyes. The powdered
leaves are applied on sores, burns and suppurations with beneficial results. The juice of the
leaves is used for diarrhoea in children. The fruit is astringent and useful for inflammation of
bowels and diseases of the blood.
231