RUBIA CORDIFOLIA. Linn. Indian madder. Rubia munjistha, Rad". I R. secunda, dloon.
R. munjith, Day.
Runes, . . . . ARAB. . . . RAVI.
Arun*, Munjith, Munjiatha, . , Sam. Khuri, Sheni, . CIIENAD. Munzul, . . • SIITI.E.J. Ituna, . . . . „ Hunting, . .
Si-tsau-ken, . . Cum Sawil . .
Knkar-phali, . JHELUM. Manjitta, . „ Tinru, . . . Manjtah tatige, . . „ Dandu, ANA. TarataVIali,. . . „ ruat„ . .
Rubia cordifolia. is a native of Siberia, but is cultivated largely in China, Assam, Nepal, Bombay, Sind, Quetta, etc., for its dye-stuff. A small quantity is exported frotn China and India. It fetches in the London and Liverpool markets from 20s. to 30s. per cwt., duty free. In 1851, at the Great Exhibition, the jury remarked that some of the colours dyed with it are quite as permanent as those dyed with madder, and even more brilliant. Botanists have been inclined to regard R. cordifolia and R. munjistha as distinct in habit, form of stem, etc.; there are differences sufficient to make them distinct species. R. munjietha, Dr. Gibson observes, is not such a large climber as the other ; Bancroft was informed by Dr. Roxburgh that the stein of R. munjistha, unlike the stem of R. tinctorum, seemed to be pre ferred to the roots for dyeing ; Roxburgh, in his Flora Indica, adds that, not only the roots and the stems, but the large branches also, are used to dye red with. It is imported into Bombhy, of
an apparently inferior quality, from 3fuscat, and into the Punjab from Afghanistan, forming a con siderable part of the large annual investments of the Lohani merchants. From the Panjab, as well as from Afghanistan directz it goes to Sind, and thence to Bombay, where It realizes 40 per cent. more than the Muscat article, and is re-exported to England. It is extensively used in the Panjab, in Sind, and in the North-Western Provinces, as a dye-stuff, and is found in every bazar of any extent.
The munjit brought from Afghanistan answers exactly to the description given in Ure's Dic tionary of Arts. It is either the true madder of Europe, or is produced by a species of ruble found in almost all parts of India distinct from R. munjistha.
An infusion of it is given as a grateful and strengthening drink to weakly women after lying in. Camel loads of madder are brought from Banu and Tonk, on the west side of the Indus, to Lahore. —Rox1). ; Smith ; Stewart ; Mason ; Irvine; Ains.; Honig.