Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/500

 Annual weeds, with basifixed hairs. Stems slender, densely cæspitose, trailing, ¼ft., densely clothed upwards, with ascending white hairs. Leaves distinctly petioled, 1-2½in. long; leaflets mostly close, densely clothed, with long white hairs on both sides. 13-15, oblong-lanceolate, acute. Stipules minute. Heads dense, sessile, 6-10-flowered. Calyx tubular ⅛-1/6in., densely matted; teeth setaceous, shorter than the tube. Corolla pale yellow, little exserted. Pods ⅜in. long, turgid, linear oblong, densely pubescent, the cluster often spreading from the stem,- like the spokes of a wheel from the axis. Stigma glabrous; seed 10-12.

Use:—The seeds are used medicinally, on account of their demulcent properties.

Vern.:—Taj-badshahi, katila, pûrtûk, parang (H.); Akhil-ul-malik (Pb.).

Habitat:—Plains of the Punjab at Lahore and Peshawar. Annual weeds, with basifixed hairs. Stem hairy, robust, 1-2ft. Leaves distinctly petioled, ¼-½ft. long; leaflets distinctly stalked, pale green ½-¾in. long, 13-25, oblong, emarginate, glabrescent above or thinly matted with silvery hairs on both sides. Heads 6-20-flowered; peduncles much shorter than the leaves, dense. Flowers small, yellow. Calyx 1/6in., matted with mixed black and white hairs, teeth subulate, as long as tube. Corolla half as long again as the Calyx. Pod ½-1in. long, cylindrical quite glabrous, much recurved, nearly bilocular, 16-18-seeded. Stigmas glabrous.

Use:—It has emollient and demulcent properties, and is useful in the irritation of the mucous membranes. The pods are officinal.

Is laxative and used in nervous affections; made into a paste with vinegar it is employed externally in headaches. Is said to be lactagogue and to be used in catarrhal affections (Dr. Emerson.)

Vern.:—Kandiára, kátarkanda, pisar, sarmul, kandei (Pb.) Tinain, diddani (Afg.).