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CAPPARIDACEAE
6. Polanisia icosandra (Linn.) Wight and Arn., Prodr. Fl. Penin. Ind. Orient. 22. 1834. (Fig. 109).
Cleome viscosa Linn.—Cleome icosandra Linn.—Cleome acutifolia Elm.—Polanisia viscosa Thw.
Sinh. Ran-manissa, Wal-aba; Tarn. Nayikadugu, Nayivelai; Hindi HulhuJ, Hurhur,
Hurhurch, Jungliharrar, Kanphytia; Sans. Adityabhakta, Arkabhakta, Arkakanta, Barbara,
Mandukaparni, Manduki, Raviprita, Ravishta, Sauri, Satyanamni, Suryalata, Suvarchala,
Suteja, Tilparni, Vikranta.
An annual erect herb, 30—90 cm tall, softly glandular, hairy and viscid throughout;
leaves alternate, palmately compound, 3—5 foliate, leaflets sessile, ovate or obovate, entire,
the terminal one the largest and the lateral ones often unequal at base; petioles 1.2—2.5 cm
long becoming shorter above and the uppermost bracts often sessile; flowers nearly regular,
lemon yellow, bisexual, axillary, hairy, growing into lax racemes, 1.8 cm diameter; sepals 4,
distinct, ovate, acute; petals 4, twice as long as sepals, obtuse, long-clawed, two approximate
and two divaricate; stamens 12—24, anthers linear, curled and blue-black in colour; ovary
superior, 2-carpelIary, uni-locular with numerous ovules on two parietal placentas and without
a gynophore; fruit capsules 5—10 cm long, erect, linear, cylindrical, very viscous, terminating in
a,glabrous, blunt style; seeds black, finely ridged on the back.
Flowers between January and March.
Illustrations. Burmann, Thes. Zeyl. pi. 99. 1737; Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient. 1: pi 2. 1838.
Distribution. Occurs as a weed throughout the tropical and warmer regions of the world.
In Ceylon, it is very common in cultivated ground in the low-country.
India. East Bengal, C.B. Clarke 17159, June 1872. Assam: Jenkins. Pen. Ind. Or.,
Herb. Wight 77. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1073. North Central Prov., Anuradhapura, Alston 1118,
March 1927. Eastern Prov., Trincomalee, E. Brand, Sep. 1913. Central Prov., Dambulla, Mirisgoniyowa
Rock, J. M. Silva, Nov. 1926; Peradeniya Bot. Gard., cultivated, Jayaweera 1176,
May 1954. Western Prov., Colombo, Govt. Dairy Farm, Alston 1119, December 1926; Kalutara,
A. de Alwis, Nov. 1920. Southern Prov., Ruhuna National Park, Pa tan a gal a Ocean Beach,
Mueller—Dombots 67082508, Aug. 1967. Burma. Upper Burma, W. A. Cole. 1890. Maldlve
Islands. Didi 149, 1896; Heddufuri, Gardiner, 1899—00; Horsburgh Atoll, Gardiner, 1899—00.
Laccadive Islands. Kiltan, Nov. 1891.
Composition. The seeds contain a fixed oil which consists of a mixture of myristic acid,
palmitic acid and viscoside acid. They also contain viscosin.
Uses. The seeds are anthelmintic, carminative, rubefacient and vesicant and useful for
fevers, diarrhoea and infantile convulsions. In Cochin-China^ the whole plant is used as a
counter-irritant and for blisters, while in the United States, the root is used as a vermifuge.
A decoction of the plant is used for colic. The juice of the leaves, poured into the ear, relieves
earache and deafness. Mixed with oil, it is a popular remedy for purulent discharges from the
ear. The bruised leaves are applied to the skin as a counter-irritant and applied to boils to
prevent the formation of pus. In Ceylon, the roots and seeds are considered to be
cardiac stimulants. In the Philippines, the root, leaves and seeds are powdered and given with
sugar for worm complaints.
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