shaya-root

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The root of Oldenlandia umbellata, or the plant itself, also called Indian madder. The outer bark of the roots furnishes a dye, in India in great repute, the source of the durable red for which the Indian chintzes are famous. The plant grows wild on the Coromandel coast, and is also cultivated there. The leaves are considered by the native doctors as expectorant.