Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/776

696 The dried flower-heads are officinal, and are said to be stimulant, tonic and carminative. The}' are used in constitutional debility, hysteria, dyspepsia and intermittent fevers. The warm and strong infusion of the flowers is emetic, while a weak infusion acts as a tonic and febrifuge. In flatulence and colic, Chamomile oil is the most effectual of all remedies. The Indian Pharmacopœia says, the babuna ka phul forms a perfect substitute for the European Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis).

Analysis by Frederick B. Power and Henry Browning, Jr. of Wellcome Chem. Pes. Labs, published in the Journal Chem. Soc. for 1914.

Tests for alkaloids were almost negative.

It contains a blue essential oil, giving color reaction for furfural, and depositing, on keeping, probably umbelliferone Me ether. It also contains a resin.

Vern. : — Babunâ (Pb. and H.); Tulobe (Cashmere).

Habitat : — Gangetic Plain, from Rajmahal and Sikkim west-wards to the Punjab.

An annual hairy, or glabrate, erect or diffuse, weak weed. Branches 3-9in., spreading. Leaves 2-pinnatifid or 2 pinnatisect, segments decurrent-lobed, lobes triangular lanceolate, ⅓-¾in. Petiole ½ amplexicaul. Peduncles filiform, naked. Heads ⅛-1/5in. diam., terminal, solitary. Flowers female, many. Involucre bracts, with scarious margins. Receptacle nearly flat, tubercled. Achenes ovate, with thick narrow wings. Achenes of the ray broad, flat.

Use : — It furnishes part of the officinal babuna, which is heated with oil and applied externally in rheumatism, &c. ( Stewart.) The infusion is used as an eye, wash in most diseases of the eye.

Syn. : — Myriogyne minuta, Lees., Artemesia sternutatoria, Roxb.

Vern. :— Nakk-chhikni ; Nag-downa ; Pachittie (H B. and