Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/431

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

221 causes the green colour of the best pomatums used for that purpose. An infusion of it pre- vents the hair from uncurling in damp weather." It is one of the plants used in manufacturing Hungary water. Of the Indian species, few indeed have obtained repute as medicinal agents.

Both the species selected for illustrating this order are held in repute by the Natives as medicinal agents. The one, Coleus, as a powerful aromatic carminitive, in cases of cholic in children; on which occasions the juice is prescribed mixed with sugar or other suitable vehicle ; the other, Leucas, or Phlomis, as it was formerly called, as a very eifective application in cases of pustular eruptions, for which purpose the leaves and tender tops are beat into a pulp and applied as an unguent. It is said to be a most effective remedy in Psora. Another plant of this order, Anisomalis Malabarica (Neputa Malabarico,, Ainslie), has got the reputa- tion of being a tonic and febrifuge; for the cure of the latter it is administered in infusion and the patients are made to inhale the vapour rising from the infusion. The infusion is also prescribed in dysenterie affections. I have not heard it from Natives that an infusion of Coleus aromaticus produces an intoxicating effect, but I was told by a European Lady, who had been recommended to use it as a carminitive, that it certainly produced that effect on her, and forced her to discontinue its use, though deriving benefit, towards the aleviation of the ailing, dyspepsia and frequent attacks of flatulent cholic, for which it was prescribed.

In this, as in the preceding large orders, it seems futile to attempt individualizing either genera or species, and especially in this, which has been so thoroughly elaborated by so excellent an observer. Such being the case I shall, as above, merely give the Tribal characters, accompanied by the analysis of at least one genus of each of those having Indian representatives. The following then are Mr. Benthaufs tribes of this order, under which are arranged 121 genera in De Candolle's Prodromus.

Tribe I. Oceinoide.e. Stamens declinate.

Tribe II. Satureie,e. Stamens distant, straight, divaricate or connivent under the upper lip, 4 or 2 (then the anthers are 2-celled with the connective not filiform), lobes of the corolla flat.

Tribe III. Monarde^e. Stamens two, straight or ascending, cells of the anthers oblong, linear, either solitary or separated by a filiform connective, (rarely approximated.)

Tribe IV. Nepete.e. Stamens 4, the posticous (not the anticous as in the other tribes), longer.

Tribe V. Stachyde.e. Stamens 4, ascending parallely under the usually concave helmet (galea). Nuculas smooth or tuberculate, free from the base, erect.

Tribe VI. Prasie.e. Stamens like those of Stachydeas. Nuculas fleshy, sub-connate at the base.

Tribe VII. Prostanthere/e. Nuculas (usually reticulately rugose) connate at the base. Style sub-persistent. Throat of the corolla campanulate, lobes plain.

Tribe VIII. Ajltgoide.e. Nuculse reticulately rugose, subconnate at the base, stamens ascending parallely, upper lip of the corolla either minute or cleft, lobes declinate,

1. Coleus aromaticus (Benth.), flowering branch, natural size.

2. A detached corolla.

3. Corolla split open, stamens monodelphous at the base.

4. Anthers, back and front views.

5. Calyx and pistil.

6. Apex of the style and stigma.

7. Detached ovary 4-lobed.

8. Ovary cut transversely.

9. Fructiferous calyx. 10. A seed.

11. The same, testa removed.

12. Seed cut transversely.

13. Cotyledon and plumule.

14. Portion of the under surface of a leaf. All more or less magnified.