Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/784

704 violet red coloration that changes to blue, and with dilute hydrochloric acid (1 : 5), it gives a brown coloration and shows a slight green fluorescence when water is added. Acetic anhydride converts anabsinthin into a resin, but oxidising and reducing agents, and dilute acids and alkalis, have but little action on it. It does not reduce Fehling's solution, and yields no compound with phenylhydrazine. When distilled, it yields acetic and formic acids and an oil which becomes green and blue when exposed to air. Anabsinthin is quite distinct from the absinthin of Senger and of Bourcet. — (J. Ch. S. 1899 AI 377).

Absinthin is obtained from the leaves. When pure, this glucoside crystallises from dilute alcohol, in prismatic needles, melts at 68°, and has an extremely bitter taste. Senger's formula for absinthin is C 15 H 20 4 .— J Ch. S. 1899 AI 538.

Vern : — Afsantin ; Downâ (Pers. and Arab.).

Habitat : — Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Lahaul.

Very similar in many respects to A. Absinthium Linn., but annual (in the Indian specimens), with much larger heads, distant on the long, lax racemes, and the anthers aristate. Hoary, pubescent, stems erect, angled, ribbed, simple or paniculately branched above. Leaves mostly petioled, broadly ovate, 2-pinnatisect, segments obtuse and obscurely lobed, hoary on both surfaces. Heads ¼-½in., diam. broadly hemispheric, pedicelled, secund nodding distant, in lax long racemes, terminating in branches. Outer Involucre-bracts green, hoary, inner Involucre-bracts broadly scarious. Receptacle hairs long, straight.

Uses : — Medicinally, it is esteemed as atonic, deobstruent, febrifuge, and anthelmintic, and it is applied externally as a discutient and antiseptic. The Hakims prescribe it in hypochondriasis, jaundice, dropsy, gout, scurvy, &c. ; also as an emmenagogue, and in hysterical affections (Dymock).

Vern. : — Watpan (Pb.).

Habitat : —Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon.

A white, woolly, a scapigerons herb, with a perennial root- stock. Leaves long-petioled, all radical, coming after the flowers, orbicular, cordate, toothed, 3-10in. broad, cobwebby above, white