Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/314

234 The herb possesses the astringent properties of the genus to a marked degree.

Duthie states, that in the villages of Jumnotri it is employed as a cure for toothache. (Watt.)

Vern : — Rowil ; bhánda (Pb. and H). The root is called chaud (Pb).

Habitat :- Throughout the Temperate Himalayas, the Khasia, Nilghiri and Pulney Mountains.

A slender, diffuse and much-branched hairy or villous, glandular herb. Branches sometimes rooting, more or less clothed with spreading or reflexed hairs. Leaves 1½-2½in. diam., opposite, spreading, 5-gonal, deeply 3-5-lobed or-partite, upper sessile, segments rhomboid, incised ; stipules subulate-lanceolate. Peduncles slender, 1-2- fid sometimes 1-flowered, very variable in length, spreading, reflexed after flowering. Flowers ⅓-⅔in. diam.; pink or purple. Sepals usually silky, shortly awned, almost equalling the entire petals. Carpels hairy. Seeds shining, smooth.

Part used : — The whole plant.

Use : — The plant is used in the Punjab as an astringent, and in certain renal diseases. (WATT).

Habitat : — Western temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Garhwal.

A reddish erect, fœtid, rather succulent annual or biennial. Branches pubescent, 6-18in., brittle, leafy, numerous. Leaves 1-3in., broad ; triangular-oblong. 5-foliate or ternatisect segments, incised or pinnatifid ; petiole long ; stipules ovate. Peduncles slender. 2-flowered, pedicels spreading. Flower- buds pyramidal. Flowers ½in. diam., streaked with dark and light red. Petals narrow, twice as long as the sepals, claw glabrous. Carpels wrinkled, keeled. Fruit ¾|-1in.; beak of carpels separating upwards from the axis and attached to its apex by silky hairs. Seeds punctulate.

Part used : — The whole plant.