En. Ceylon Pl., 145; Dalz. & Gibs., Bomb. Fl., 114; Elliot, Flora Andh., Habitat. Found throughout India from the Sutlej eastward, and southward to Ceylon and Malacca; generally wild. Dye.-The WOOD, BARK, and ROOT-BARK yield a red dye, apparently identical with that of M. citrifolia (see ál dye, p. 263). Medicine.-Irvine states that the ROOT, like that of M. citrifolia, is used internally as an astringent. Food." The green FRUITS are picked by the Hindús and eaten with their curries" (Roxb.). Structure of the Wood.-Similar to that of M. citrifolia, described under M. exserta, Roxb., by Brandis, Gamble, &c. According to Roxburgh it is "hard and very durable, variegated with red and white," and "employed for gun-stocks in preference to all other kinds." Morinda umbellata, Linn.; Fl. Br. Ind., III., 157. Syn.-M. SCANDENS, Roxb.; M. TETRANDRA, Jack; M. PADAVARA, Juss. References.-Roxb., Fl. Ind., Ed. C.B.C., 184; Kurz, For. Fl. Burm., II., Habitat.-A diffuse shrub met with in the hilly regions of Eastern Dye.-Like all other members of this genus, the ROOT yields a dye, but of a brilliant yellow, not a red, colour. Fibre. Thwaites states that the Singalese employ the tough stems instead of ropes for binding fences. Medicine. Ainslie informs us that the LEAVES, made into a decoction in conjunction with certain aromatics, were employed in his time by the "Tamool doctors" in cases of diarrhoea and lientery. Food."The green FRUITS are used in curries and the ripe ones eaten" (Lisboa). MORINGA, Juss.; Gen. Pl., I., 430. Moringa concanensis, Nimmo; Fl. Br. Ind., II., 45; MORINGEA. References.-Grah., Cat. Bomb. Pl., 43; Dalz. & Gibs., Bomb. Fl., 311; Habitat.-A small tree met with on the dry hills of Rájputana, Sind, and the Konkan. Gum.-E. A. Fraser, Esq., Assistant Agent to the Governor General, Rájputana, states, in a note furnished to the editor, that it yields a white gum of little value, MORINGA pterygosperma. FOOD. 719 Flowers. 720 Roots. 721 GUM. 722 The Horse-radish Tree. Food. The unripe FRUIT and FLOWERS are eaten as a pot-herb. Syn. MORINGA OLEIFERA, Lam.; M. ZEYLANICA, Pers.; M. POLYGONA, Vern.-Shainaḥ, shajná, ségvá, soanjna, HIND.; Sojná, sujuna, sajina, Habitat.-A tree, wild in the sub-Himálayan tract from the Chenab to Oudh; commonly cultivated in India and Burma on account of its leaves, flowers, and pods, all of which are eaten. Gum.-It yields a gum which is white when it exudes, but gradually turns to a mahogany colour on the surface; used in native medicine. This exudation belongs to the tragacanth or hog-gum series, but, owing to its commonly dark colour, is of no European commercial value. Samples vary in colour from dark mahogany, red, or pink to almost white, and in shape from stalactitic pieces to tears. Like other gums of the tragacanth series, it is insoluble in water. About 8.3 per cent. is soluble in alcohol, 7.85 of the remainder in ether, while the residue is almost completely dissolved by alkalies. This gum is one oft hose frequently called MOCHARAS or MOCHRAS. Dye.-Ainslie states that the wooD is used in Jamaica for dyeing a blue colour, "for which purpose I cannot learn that it is employed in India." The gum is used in calico-printing. Mr. Christy, in his New Commercial Plants, includes this amongst East Indian tans, the bark, according to him, being used and known under the vernacular name of subanjuna. As far as India is concerned, this is a mistake; the plant is far too valuable as a vegetable producer to be used as a tan, even should it possess the necessary properties. Fibre. -The BARK yields a coarse fibre from which mats, paper, or cordage might be prepared. Oil.-The SEEDS yield a clear, limpid, almost colourless oil (according to Cloez 36°2 per cent.), rather thick at ordinary temperatures, easily extracted by simple pressure. It has a sp. gr. of o'912-0 915 at 60° Fh., is fluid at 77° Fh., thick at 59° Fh., and solid at lower temperatures. It is almost devoid of odour and flavour, saponifies slowly, and does not turn rancid. Composed essentially of oleine, margarine, and stearine, after separation of the solidifiable portion by cooling, it is one of the best lubricants for fine machinery. The oil from this species and that from M. aptera, Juss., are commercially termed BEN OIL and are highly valued as lubricants by watch-makers. It is, however, seldom made in India and does not form an article of export, a fact which is the more remarkable when one remembers the great extent to which the tree is cultivated. India might easily, and apparently profitably, supply the whole world with BEN OF MORINGA OIL, and it is to be hoped that attention may be directed to the subject. In addition to its value as a lubricant, it is highly esteemed by perfumers, owing to its great power of absorbing and retaining even the most fugitive odours. In the West Indies it is said to be used as a Salad oil. [For Benne Oil see Sesamum.] Medicine. The medicinal virtues of this plant have long been known and appreciated in India. It is frequently mentioned by Chakradatta, also in the Bhavaprakása, and other works on Sanskrit medicine. By ancient writers the ROOT is described as acrid, pungent, stimulant, and diuretic when given internally, rubefacient when applied externally, The SEEDS have similar properties ascribed to them and are called sveta maricha, or white pepper. In the Bhávaprakása two varieties of Sobhánjana or Moringa root are described, namely, a white and a red. The root of the former is said to be a stronger rubefacient, while that of the latter is preferred for internal use. A decoction of the ROOT-BARK is recommended by Chakradatta, and in the Bhávaprakása, for ascites, enlarged spleen or liver, internal and deep-seated inflammation, and calculous affections. It is also directed to be used externally as a plaster or decoction over inflamed parts. The fresh juice of the root-bark is recommended for much the same diseases as the decoction, and is also said to relieve otalgia when poured into the ears, while the GUM is said to be used for the same purpose (U. C. Dutt). Dymock informs us that Muhammadan writers describe the FLOWERS as hot and dry, and consider that they expel cold humours, disperse swellings, act as a tonic and diuretic and increase the flow of bile. The JUICE of the root is prescribed by them with milk, as diuretic, antilithic, digestive, and useful in asthma. A poultice made from the root is supposed to reduce swelling, but is said to be very irritating and painful to the skin. The PODS are esteemed as a vegetable, and act as a preventive against intestinal worms (Dymock, quoting the Makhaan). The root and OIL were early noticed by English writers on Indian MORINGA pterygosperma. MEDICINE. Fruit. 736 Bark. 737 Leaves. 738 Medicinal uses of the Horse-radish Tree. Materia Medica. Thus Fleming wrote: "In medicine the root of the young tree completely supplies the place of the horse-radish, whether employed externally as a rubefacient, or used internally in cases of palsy, chronic rheumatism and dropsy as a stimulant. The expressed oil of the seeds is used externally for relieving the pain of the joints in gout and acute rheumatism." Ainslie also notices the green root, giving the same information, and adds that it was prescribed by native doctors in doses of about one scruple in intermittent fever, was also used in epilepsy and hysteria, and was considered a valuable rubefacient in palsy and chronic rheumatism. He quotes Fleming's account of the oil. Later, Taylor writes that the fresh root, mixed with mustard seed and green ginger, is used as an external application in rheumatism and is also administered internally in enlargement of the spleen and dyspepsia. Honigberger states that "the FRUIT is administered by the Hakims in affections of the liver and spleen, articular pains, tetanus, debility of nerves, paralysis, pustules, patches, Indian leprosy, &c.," and recommends the root for soreness of the mouth and throat, and the gum for dental caries. Later writers have, as a rule, simply repeated certain of the above enumerated opinions in their accounts of the drug; and in the Pharmacopeia of India it has a place on the secondary list, and is briefly described. Stewart adds to the above information that the gum is used in the Panjáb for rheumatism and as an astringent. Dymock also informs us that in Bombay a decoction of the root-bark is employed to relieve spasm, and gives the following_interesting account of the medicinal use of the plant in the Konkan:- The BARK of the wild tree is ground with Plumbago root, pigeon's dung, and chicken's dung, and applied to destroy guinea-worm. Four tolás of the JUICE OF THE LEAVES of the cultivated plant are given as an emetic. The gum is said to be used to produce abortion, but it is difficult to obtain any reliable evidence on a point of this nature; it would be quite possible to use it as a tent to dilate the os uteri, as it is very tough, and swells rapidly when moistened." In Bengal half-ounce doses of the bark are employed internally for the same purpose. The root is in all probability the only part of real medicinal value, and would appear to be a perfect substitute for the true horse-radish, Cochlearia Armoracia. It has been examined by Broughton and was found to yield by distillation with water an essential oil of disgusting odour and much pungency. It differs from the oil of mustard and garlic, the odour being distinct and more offensive (Pharmacographia). SPECIAL OPINIONS.-"The root is used as a blistering agent in cases of enlarged liver in young children, and is also said to be used as an abortive" (W. Forsyth, F.R.C.S., Civil Medical Officer, Dinajpore). "An infusion of the fresh root is used as a stimulant and diuretic in dropsical affections, also as a gargle in hoarseness and relaxed sore throat" (Civil Surgeon F. H. Thornton, M.B., Monghyr). "The gum is frequently applied to disperse glandular swellings" (Assistant Surgeon S. C. Bhattacharji, Chanda, Central Provinces). "The young leaves, the flowers, and the young pods are used as food in West Bengal. The flowers are hot, dry, tonic, and useful in catarrhal affections" (Civil Surgeon D. Basu, Faridpore, Bengal). "The leaves, ground into a paste with a few pods of garlic, a bit of turmeric and a little salt and pepper, are given internally in cases of dog-bite and applied externally over the bite. In five or six days the wound heals and the inflammatory and febrile symptoms subside" (Surgeon-Major D. R. Thomson, M.D., C.I.E., Madras). "The flowers, boiled in milk, are said to be aphrodisiac" (Native Surgeon T. R. Moodelliar, Chingleput, Madras Presidency). "The root can be used as a rubefacient and counter-irritant in rheumatic cases" (Surgeon R. L The White Mulberry. (J. Murray.) Dutt, M.D., Pubna). "The juice of the bark is used for mange in horses" (Surgeon-Major P. N. Mookerjee, 32nd M. N. I., Cuttack, Orissa). "The bark of the root made into a paste with water can be used as a substitute for cantharides" (Assistant Surgeon S. C. Bose, Bankipore). "The root-bark, which is used as a substitute for horse-radish by Europeans, makes an excellent rubefacient plaster. The outer bark of the tree is also similarly used. I have found it very useful as a carminative stimulant given internally in flatulent colic, in combination with asafoetida and ginger. These ingredients are pounded together and given in the form of a bolus (30 grains) twice or three times daily. The leaves cooked with the lye obtained from the ashes of the plantain tree are made into a sort of soup and used as an article of food in North Bengal, and considered a good antiscorbutic, but both the leaves and pods which are also used in curries are usually supposed to be heating" (C. T. Peters, M.B., Zandra, South Afghánistán). Food.-The tree flowers in February and produces a long whip-like bean in March and April. The LEAVES, FLOWERS, and PODS and even the TWIGS are used with various condiments, and cooked in many ways as pot-herbs, and the pungent root is employed as a garnish instead of mustard. The fruit is also made into a pickle, which is described as "most nauseous to Europeans," but which appears to have been long known and appreciated by the natives of Northern India, being mentioned (300 years ago) in the list of pickles given in the Ain-i-Akbari. The ROOT has long been known to Europeans in India as an efficient substitute for horse-radish, and is thus described by Fleming: "The root of the young tree, when scraped, so exactly resembles horse-radish as scarcely to be distinguished from it by the nicest palate." It is now universally used like true horse-radish, as a condiment with roast beef, &c. Fodder. In many parts of the country the TWIGS and LEAVES are largely lopped for fodder. Morphia, see Papaver somniferum, Linn.; Vol. VI., Pt. I. [morrhua, Linn.; Vol III., 462. Mortar, see Carbonate of Lime, Vol. II., 142; also Cements, Vol. II., MORUS, Linn.; Gen. Pl., III., 364. A genus of trees or shrubs which, according to the Genera Plantarum, comprises from ten to twelve species, which have been reduced to five by Bureau. In the Flora of British India three are described as natives of India, while two, M. alba, Linn., and M. atropurpurea, Roxb., are stated to be extensively cultivated. All the Indian species are united by Bureau under M. alba, Linn., and following him many Indian writers have described all the Indian forms under one name. The economic information regarding each species cannot, therefore, as a rule be separated, but it appears probable that all possess very similar features, and may, therefore, all be used similarly to M. indica, which, as the commonest of the Indian White Mulberries, will be most fully described. Morus alba, Linn; Fl. Br. Ind., V.. 492; URTICACEE. THE WHITE MULBERRY. [Linn. Syn.-M. ALBA (in part), Bureau; M. SERRATA, Wall.; M. TATARICA, MORUS alba. MEDICINE. Lye. 739 FOOD. 740 Flowers. 741 Pods. 742 Twigs. 743 Root. 744 FODDER. 746 747 |