Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/766

686 A marsh herb, usually quite glabrous, sometimes pubescent or glandular; stems l-2fc, elongate, simple or divaricating, branches rooting at the nodes. Leaves sessile, linear-oblong, acute or obtuse, entire or subcrenate, l-3in., variable in 'breadth, base narrowed or truncate. Heads axillary and terminal sessile, ⅓-½in. outer dorsally, inner sometimes literally compressed, pappus absent.

Uses : — The leaves of this aquatic plant are regarded as laxative and useful in diseases of the skin and nervous system. The fresh juice of the leaves, in doses of about a tola, is prescribed by some kavirajas in Calcutta, as an adjunct to tonic metallic medicines, given in neuralgia and other nervous diseases (Dutt).

The leaves are antibilious (K. L. Dey). Expressed juice of the leaves is used as demulcent in cases of gonorrhœa ; it is taken mixed with milk, either of cow or goat. The leaves are pounded and made into a paste which is applied cold over the head as a cooling agent (Assistant-Surgeon Mookerji, in Watt's Dictionary).

Useful in the torpidity of the liver. The infusion should be made the previous evening. It is boiled with rice and used with mustared oil and salt; dose infusion, one drachm. (Mr. Forsyth, F.R.C.S., in Watt's Dictionary).

Syn. : — E. prostrata, Roxb. 605.

Sans. : — Kesarâja ; also Bhringarâja (K.R.K.).

Vern. :— Moch Kand, Bhangrâ, Bâbri, Mâka, Dodhak (Pb.) ; Mik (Sind.) ; Kesuti, Keysuria (B) ; Karisha langauni, Kaikeshi, Kaivishi-ilai, Kaiantagarie (Tam.) ; Goontagelinjeroo (Tel). Bhâugra (U.).

Habitat :— From the Himalaya throughout India.

Hirsute or strigillose annual, erect or diffuse, branched, slender weed. Leaves opposite, sessile, linear or oblong-lanceolate, narrowed at both ends, l-4in. long, very variable in form and width. Peduncles 1-2, axillary, short or long, and slender. Involucre bracts ovate obtuse, or acute, about equally or exceeding the flowers. Heads ¼-⅓in. diam.