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Rh chronic rheumatism. It must, however, be employed with caution, as in certain cases it is said to act as a gastro-intestinal irritant, producing vomiting and purging (Watt.)

 

Vern.: — Lil Kathi (Santali).

Habitat: — Common in Simla, in rock-crevices. Temperate Himalaya, from Chamba Hill to Sikkim, Khasia Mts.

A perennial, densely hairy herb. Rootstock woody, often tuberous. Stems thick, short, decumbent. Branches long, spreading. Leaves nearly sessile, ovate or oblong-ovate, ½-2 in. Bracts sessile. Flowers purple, crowded in axillary racemes. Calyx persistent. Keel-petal crested. Capsule heart-shaped, fringed. Seeds hairy. Strophiole, with 2 small ovate appendages.

Parts used : — The entire plant and the root. Use :— Used medicinally by the natives in catarrhal affections; deserving of further attention. (Ph. Ind., p. 29.) Royle states that the plant was sent to him with the information that the root was employed as a cure for snake-bite by the hill people of the Himalaya. This fact is of interest, since P. Senega is similarly used in South America (Watt.)

Syn. : — P. arvensis, Willd; Roxb. 531.

Vern. : — Meradu or Miragu (H.); Gaighura (Santal.); Negli (Mar.) Pili Bhoysana (Guj. and Porebunder).

Habitat : — Throughout India, from the Punjab to Pegu, and in the Western Peninsula. In Porebundar State (Bardâ. Mt.)

An annual herb, most variable, usually procumbent, leafy, rather stout, 3-10 in. high, glabrous or pubescent. 