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28. CELASTRACEAE
1. Celastrus paniculatus Willd. Sp. PI. 1: 1125. 1797. (Fig. 110).
Celastrus alnifolia Don—Celastrus dependens Wall.—Celastrus mullifiora Roxb.—Celastrus
nutans Roxb.—Celastrus rothiana Roem. and Schult.—Celastrus metziana Turcz.—Celastrus
polybotrys Turcz.—Ceanothus paniculates Roth.—Scutia paniculata Don—Diosma serrata
Blanco
Sinh. Duhudu, Vatuvai-eta; Tarn. Adjbaricham, Kalambam, Kagodagi, Kaligam,
Kirumikkundram, Kungiligam, Kuvangundal, Malganguni, Mallagam, Siruvaluluvai, Sodiyam,
Tanisi, Tipadisam, Valuluvai; Hindi Malkakni, Malkamni, Malkangni, Malkungi; Sans.
Agnimasha, Amruta, Avega, Dipta, Durjara, Durmada, Gatida, Ingudi, Jyotishka, Jyotishmati,
Jyotistata. Kakandi, Kanguni, Katabhi, Kinshuka, Lagana Lavana, Medhya, Nishphala,
Paravatanghri, Paravatapadi, Pidya, Pinya, Pitataifa, Putitala, Saraswati, Sphutabandhani,
Supingala, Swarnalata, Tahnirusi, Triparni.
A large, climbing shrub, about 4—18 m. high with pendulous branches, rough furrowed,
bark and glabrous young parts; leaves alternate without stipules, 5—9 cm long, 3.8—5 cm
broad, broadly oval, acute at base, shortly acuminate, obtuse, shallowly crenate—serrate except
at the base, glabrous, petioles 0.6—1 cm long; flowers regular, pale yellow, polygamous,
3—4 mm diameter, in terminal, pyramidal, pendulous panicles 5—10 cm long, pedicels slender,
puberulous; sepals 5, fused into a 5-lobed calyx, lobes shallow, unequal; petals 5, spreading,
oblong, broad-based, acute; disc inconspicuous; stamens 5, inserted on the edge of the disc;
ovary superior, 3-locular with two erect ovules in each loculus, style short, stigma deeply 3-lobed;
fruit a loculicidal, 3-valved capsule, 1.2 cm long, broadly ovoid or roundish, blunt, transversely
wrinkled, brigjit yellow, valves septifragal above, remaining united at base and spreading or
reflexed, leaving the seeds exposed; seeds 0.8 cm long, cinnamon brown, striate, completely
enveloped in scarlet, fleshy aril.
Flowers during May and August.
niustrations. Wight, HI. pi. 72. 1841; Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pi. 158. 1839; Kirtikar
and Basu. Indian Med. PI. pi. 235. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya., drawing.
Distribution., Occurs in the sub-Himalayan tract throughout India, Ceylon, Burma.
Malay Peninsula to New Caledonia and in the Philippine Islands. In Ceylon, it is common in
the moist low-country up to 2000 feet altitude.
India. Him. Bor. Occ. T. Thomson. Sikkim: Clarke 24867.4, Oct. 1875. Khasia: J. D
Hooker AT. Thomson. Concan: Stocks. Bengal: Clarke 11727/4, May 1870. Mt. Nilghiris &
Curg: Hooker f. and T. Thomson. Pen. Ind. Or., Herb. Wight 453, Kew Distribution 1866-7.
Assam: Prain's Collector 357. Ceylon. Deltota, Thwaites CP. 1232; Peradeniya, Bot. Gard.,
cultivated, Alston. Burma.' Upper Burma: South Shan State, Khali!, 1893.
Composition. The leaves contain traces of an alkaloid and a glucoside. The seeds yield
a fatty oil which contains cholasterol, a colouring matter, chromogen, celastrine and paniculatine.
Uses. The juice of the leaves is an antidote for opium poisoning. A decoction of the
seeds is given for rheumatism, gout, paralysis and leprosy. The oil extracted from the seeds
is a remedy for beri-beri, a nerve stimulant and brain tonic. The pulverised seeds are used as
an antirheumatic and in cases of paralysis.
In Java, the leaves are used tor dysentery while in Ceylon the plant is used externally as
a parasiticide for scabies, ringworm and other skin diseases. A decoction of the bark is given
internally to stimulate the appetite improving digestion and employed with much benefit for
anorexia and chronic dyspepsia. The oil from the seeds is used as a nerve tonic, diaphoretic
and diuretic. With cow's milk, it gives good results in the treatment of anasarca and ascites.
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