Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/753

Rh An erect, annual herb, l-2ft, hispidly hairy. Stem branched, terete. Leaves petioled, ovate, crenate. Heads many, small, in dense terminal corymbs, Bracts striate, acute. Ray-flowers many, pale-blue or white. Achenes black, pappus scales 5, awned, often serrate below.

Uses. — The whole plant has a strong aromatic, rather disagreeable smell, and has a reputation among the Hindus as an external application in agues; it is also worn as a charm against ague when dug up on Sunday morning with the proper ceremonies. The juice is also said to be a good remedy for prolapsus ani ; it is freely applied, and the parts replaced (Dymock). The juice of the root is said to possess antilithic properties (K.R.K.).

Habitat. — Temperate Hamalaya, and the Khasia Mountains.

A tall, coarse, pubescent or puberulous herb. Leaves simple or trisect, lanceolate, coarsely serrate. Corymbs many, rounded. Heads ⅓in. long. Inner involucere-bracts subacute.

Use. — " Was strongly recommended by Tournefort as a deobstruent in visceral obstructions, consequent to intermittent fevers, and externally as a discutient in hydropic swellings of the legs and scrotum " (Fleming).

Vern. — Ayâpâna (Mar.)

Habitat. — An American plant, naturalized in many parts of India. I have seen it in Bombay. I grew it in my Ratnagiri garden in 1900-1904. K. R. K.

A small shrubby plant, 5 to 6 feet high ; branches straight, reddish, with a few simple scattered hairs ; young shoots have a somewhat mealy appearance, due to the presence of small particles of a white balsamic exudation ; leaves opposite, in pairs, their bases uniting round the stem, about 4 inches long and ¾ inch broad, fleshy, smooth, lanceolate, attenuated at the base ; midrib thick and reddish ; flowers like those of the groundsel, purple. The odour of the plant is aromatic,