MALEAL.
This plant grows in moist places in Bengal and Peninsular India, and is given in infusion by the 'tire doctors in India in cases of colic. Cattle at it greedily. The seeds are used in China also n colic and choleraic affections ; its leaves and talks as a wash for callous ulcers.
Polygonum bistortum, —? Msslun, . . . HIND. I Anjabar, . . PANJAB.
A plant of the north-west of India. Root very .tringent ; useful in sore - throat and relaxed tuns and ulcers.
Pelygonum cymosum, Wall., a wild buckwheat, called pullopbi, abundant at Choongtam in Sik kim, forums an excellent spinach ; it is a common Ihnialayan plant, and is also found in the Khassya mountains. • Polygonum fagopyruin, While., Smith. Fagopyrum esculentum. 1 Ugla kaspat, . . Ifixo.
Seeds nutritive, contain much oil, said to be very fattening. P. tataricum is hardier, and ripens more rapidly than P. fagopyrum.
Polygonum hydropiper, Riddell, P'en-chub, Cum, it Chinese plant. Juice used as a wash in itching skin affections; as a diuretic, carminative, and antheliniutic. The plant is used as a flux
in operating on metals.
Polygonum polystachyum, 1 Van.
Amldandi, Chuchi, HIND. I Tror, This and P. polymorphum are tall plants with fine flowers ; one at least of them exhaling a strong honey smell at times. Both appear to lie common locally in the Panjab Himalaya, from 6000 to 12,000 feet. The young leaves are used by the natives as a pot-herb, and a very good imitation of rhubarb is got, by stewing the stalks, which also, after peeling, are eaten raw by the natives in some places.
Polygonum tortuosuni, Don, Niala and Nialo, Pssssti. This grows to 15,000 feet in the Himalaya, is said to yield a yellow dye in Lahoul. In Ladakh it is browsed by goats and yaks.—Eng. Cne. ; Honigb.; Hooker's Him. Jour. ii. p. 31 ; a Sh. ; Powell; Riddell ; Roxb.; Smith, M. .111.; J. L. Stewart ; Wight's lc. ;Irilliarns' Mid. Kingd.