# Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Gentianaceæ

N. 0. GENTIANACEÆ.
791. Exacun tetragonum, Roxb. h.f.b.l, iv. 95; Roxb 133.
Vern. : — Titakhana (H.) ; Kûchuri (B.) Orka phûl (Santal.).
Habitat : — North India, common, from Kumaon to Central India, Bhotan and the Khasia Mts.
An annual herb. Stems quadrangular, erect, l-4ft , branching. Leaves opposite, sessile, stem clasping, broadly lanceolate, ​ 5-nerved, 1½-5 acute, or ⅔-l½in., subobtnse. Flowers blue, 1¼in, diam., in terminal panicles. Calyx deeply 4-lobed ; lobes ovate, keeled, long-pointed. Corolla-tube inflated, much shorter than the 4 ovate acute lobes. Stamens 4, filaments short. Anthers narrowly oblong, ¼in. straight, opening by two terminal pores. Ovary 2-celled ; style long, stigma capitate, entire ; ovules numerous, capsule globose.
Use : — The plant is used as a tonic in fevers and as a stomachic bitter (Ph. Ind.)
792. E. bicolor Roxb. h.f.b.i., iv. 96. Roxb. 133.
Vern. : — Bará-charáyatah (H.)
Habitat : — Dekkan Peninsula, frequent from the Konkan and Orissa to Courtallam.
Erect, annual herbs. Stems much branched above, slender, glandular. Leaves on very short petioles, 1½-2in., oval, tapering on both ends, acute, 3-(or 5-) nerved. Flowers 4-merous, small, on long rigid pedicels, rather small, pale, violet-blue or white ; Calyx-segments ovate, very acute, wings wide, cordate or sub-cordate at base, strongly veined. Corolla ⅝in. diam., lobes 4, lanceolate, acute ; anthers 4, 1/10in., not tapering, capsule globose(Trimen). In the Flora of British India, (Vol. iv. p. 96), Mr. C. B. Clarke describes it thus : —
Stem quadrangular, leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate, 5-nerved. Calyx-lobes ovate, suddenly caudate, keel winged, anthers ⅓-½in. curved. C. B. Clarke further remarks that E. bicolor is considered by Mr. Bentbam only a form of E. tetragon um Roxb. but differs from that and the larger E. Perrotteta in the unsy inmetric flowers, the buds distinctly curved at the tips and the anther-cells curved and tapering upwards. The flowers are larger than those of E. tetragonum, smaller than those of E. Perrotteta. The corolla-segments are (very generally) white on the lower half, full azure-blue in the upper.
Use : — The plant possesses tonic and stomachic properties, and may well be substituted for gentian (Ph. Ind.).
793. E. pedunculatum, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 97.
Syn. : — E. sulcatum, Roxb. 134. ​ Habitat :— Throughout India, from Oudh and Bengal to Ceylon.
A small, slender herb. Stem slender, erect, much-branched, quadrangular, 3-12in. Leaves 1¾-½in., subsessile, elliptic or lanceolate, 3-nerved. Flowers, small, 4-merous. Cymes terminal many-fid, Peduncles ⅛-½in., suberect, rigid. Calyx-lobes 1/6-1/5in. ovate, acuminate ; wing distinct, lanceolate. Corolla-lobes blue, ¼-⅓in. elliptic. Anthers ⅛in.., scarcely attenuate upwards, dehiscing finally half-way to the base. Capsule 1/6in. Sub-globose.
Uses : — The plant is less bitter than chiretta and more than gentian, for which it may be substituted. Dr. Bidie directs the plant to be gathered when the flowers begin to fade and to be carefully dried in the shade. For administration, it may be given in infusion and tincture of the same strength as those of chiretta (Ph. Ind.)-
794 — Enicostema littorale, Blame, h.f.b.i., iv. 101 ; Roxb. 264.
Habitat:— Throughout India, from the Punjab and Gangetic plain to Ceylon ; more frequent near the sea, not known in Bengal.
Vern — Chota kiráyata (H.) ; Mamijwa (Bomb.); Manucha (Sind) ; Kadavinayi (Mar.) ; Vellurugu(Tam. } ; Nela-guli ; Nela-gulamidi (Tel.) ; Naichápiala (Bomb.).
A perennial herb. Stems several, from a woody base, erect or procumbent, 6-18in., sub-quadrangular or terete, glabrous, internodes short. Leaves opposite 1-l¾in., oblong-oval to oblong-linear, sessile, tapering to base, obtuse, rather thick, 3-nerved, the lateral nerves marginal and faint, pale glaucous green. Flowers numerous, crowded, white. Calyx glabrous, segments lanceolate, sub-acute. Corolla much longer than the Calyx ; tube wide, ⅛in., lobes much shorter than the tube, 1/10in., oval acute, elliptic, says C. B. Clarke. Stamens, included. Capsule about ¼in., says Trimen ; ⅛-1/6in., says Clarke. Seeds small. The root creeping, filiform. The whole plant is very bitter.
Uses : — It possesses marked bitterness, and, according to Dr. Cleghorn, it is much used by the natives of Madras as a ​ stomachic, as, in addition to its tonic property it is also somewhat laxative (Ph. Ind.).
The aerial and subterranean portions of this plant were examined separately ; the former gave 34 per cent, of dry alcoholic extract and 15.7 per cent, of ash, and the latter 15.5 per cent, of dry alcoholic extract and 10.4 per cent, of ash. The bitter principle from both portions appeared to be identical and to have the characters of a glucoside. It was left as a varnish-like residue from the evaporation of its solution in chloroform, and was also soluble in ether, benzol, alcohol and water. It gave a reddish brown colour with strong sulphuric acid, which changed to a purplish tint after standing. The hydrolysis of the bitter principle with dilute hydrochloric acid resulted in the production of an agreeable aromatic substance, and the deposition of a nocculent light-brown colouring matter. (Pharuiacographia Indica Vol. II P,516.)
795. Erythrœa Roxburghii, G. Don., h.f.b.l, iv. 102.
Syn.: — Chironia centruaioides, Roxb. 196.
Vern. : — Luntuk kurunai, kadavi-nái (Bomb.) ; Charáyatah (II.); Girmi, gima (B.) ; Gada-sigrik (Santal,) ; Jangli-kariátu (Guz).
Habitat : — Throughout India ; from the Punjab and Bengal to Travancore. Common in Thana (Konkan), on walls.
An annual herb. Stem 2-12in. high, 4 angled Radical leaves numerous, persistent, obovate or elliptic, 1 by ⅓in. usually obtuse. Cauline leaves smaller, narrower. Cymes repeatedly dichotomous, with long pedicelled flower in each fork. Pedicels in the fork usually ¼ to ½in. Bracts not prominent. Calyx 1/5in. Corolla-tube exceeding ¼in, lobes very small, Corolla-tube much longer than the Calyx. Lobes rose-coloured. Anthers at length, spirally twisted. Stigma large, 2-lamellate. Capsule narrowly oblong.
Use : — The whole plant is described as powerfully bitter, and is held in high esteem by the natives (Bengal Dispensatory, p. 461). It doubtless might prove a useful tonic (Ph. Ind.). It is used by the Santals in fever. (Revd. A. Campbell.) It it used as a substitute for chiretta, especially in Bengal.
796. Canscora diffusa, Br. h.f.b.l, iv. 103,
Syn. : — Pladera virgata, Roxb. 134. ​ Vern. :— Kyout pan (Burm).
Habitat :- -Throughout India.
A slender, much branched annual, 2 ft. or more in height. Stems obtusely 4-angled. Leaves membranous, 3-nerved, 1 in. long, the lower lanceolate or elliptic and often petioled ; upper sessile, broadly ovate, acute or apiculate, rounded at the base, uppermost leaves much smaller. Flowers pink, in lax diffuse panicles, pedicels filiform, the ultimate bracts very minute. Calyx ¼in. long, not winged ; teeth lanceolate, acute. Corolla in, long; tube ¼in., green ; lobes unequal, obtuse. Stamens 4, one of which is fertile and larger than the others and inserted higher up. Capsule narrowly oblong, nearly as long as the calyx, membranous. (Duthie).
Use. : — Used as a substitute for C. decussatta.
797. C. decussata, Roem. & Sch. h.f.b.i., iv 104.
Syn. : — Pladera decussata, Roxb. 135.
Sans. : — Sankhapushphi ; Dandotpala.
Vern. : — Sankháhuli (H.) ; Dán kuni (B,) ; Shankhapushappi (Cutch).
It seems probable that the Sanskrit names are applied in different parts of the country to more than one species of Canscora. Rheede (Hort. Mai. X., t. 52) figures C. perfoliate, with the Malayalim name of the Cansjan-cora, from which the botanical name of the genus has been derived. (Dymock).
Habitat : — Valleys of Simla, Himalaya, abundant in Bengal plains. Throughout India, Burma, Ceylon.
Stems erect, 6-18in. 4-winged, branched above. Leaves, rather numerous, sessile, lowest one about lin., upper ones smaller, all ovate or oblong-lanceolate, rounded at base, acute, 3-nerved. Peduncles long, quadrangular, strongly winged. Calyx nearly ½in., 4-winged ; segments very short, lanceolate, very acute. Corolla-lobes rounded, 2 lower ones much narrower. Flowers white or pale yellow. Stamens 4, one perfect, anthers small and imperfect (Collett). Filaments short. Ovary 1-celled, style abort, stigma 2-lobed, capsule oblong. Seeds large dark brown, reticulate.
The different species of Canscora are bitterish annual plants which grow on moist situations during, or immediately after the rainy season. ​ Use : — In Hindu medicine this plant is regarded as laxative, alterative and tonic, and is much praised as a nervine. It is also used in insanity, epilepsy, and nervous debility. The fresh juice of the plant is given in all cases of insanity, in doses of about an ounce (Dutt).
798. Gentiana tenella, Fries, h.f.b.l, IV. 109.
Vern. :— Tita (Pb.)
Habitat :— Common in Kashmir and W. Himalaya.
An erect or straggling herb, 4-lineolate, branched. Stem 2-10in. Leaves oblong or ovate, ½ by ¼in., lowest spa- thulate. Pedicels (many of them) long, terminal, solitary, l-3½in. Calyx-tube hardly any ; lobes 1/5 by 1/10in., elliptic, often unequal. Corolla fimbriate in the throat, tubular, 5-lobed, tube ½ by 1/6-1/5in., lobes ¼in., elliptic, capsule ⅔n., oblong-linear, sessile.
Use: — Aitchison says that in Lahoul a decoction of the leaves and stems of this and other species is given in fevers (Watt).
799. G. Kurroo, Royle, h.f.b.l iv. 117
Vern. : — Karú, kútki (Beng. and Hind.); Nilkant, kamalphul, milakil (Pb.).
Habitat ' — Common in Kashmir and N.-W. Himalaya.
Roolstook. thick. Stems tufted, decumbent, 4-12in. Leaves narrowly oblong. Radical leaves collected into a rosette. 3-5 by ¼-½in. Stem-leaves lin., narrower. Flowers blue, spotted with white, 1¾-2in. long, ¾in. diam., solitary or racemose. Calyx about half as long as the Corolla ; lobes linear. Corolla 5-lobed Capsule oblong (Collett), ¾ by ½in. Stalk ¼-½in. Seeds twice as long as broad, acute at one end, subcordate at the other (C. B. Clarke).
Uses : — The root is medicinally used as a bitter tonic, and as substitute for the true Gentian. On the hills it is viewed as a febrifuge. Used principally as a masala for fattening horses (Calthrop). Acts as an aperient in larger doses (Gray). Said ​ to diminish the fever of phthisis (Peacock)- Used for urinary affections (Roxb.).
The authors of the Pharmacogrophia Indica (vol. II p, 510) write: — "In the Dictionary of the Economic Products of India (111 p. 486), it is stated that G. Kurroo is largely exported to the plains along with the P. Kurrooa as the officinal Karu or Katki, but we have been unable to find anything like the root of a Gentian in the original parcels of that drag which arrive from the hills. We believe that all the references to this plant, as a drug in use in the plains, belong properly to Picrorhiza, and that G. Kurroo is only used in the Himalayas and northern districts of the Punjab."
The roots contain a bitter principle similar to that of the European species, it is soluble in water and alcohol, and is not thrown down by neutral acetate of lead, but is precipitated by ammoniacal acetate; and liberated from the precipitate by sulphuretted hydrogen. It can be extracted from an aqueous solution by agitation with benzine or ether but more readily by chloroform. Ferric chloride does not precipitate it nor does tannin. Sulphuric acid colours it reddish and the dilute acid decomposes it with the production of sugar. The root also contains a yellow, transparent, brittle resin, resembling mastic, in softening at the temperature of the mouth ; it is odourless and tasteless, neutral in reaction, and insoluble in alkaline liquors. The presence of this resin to the extent of nearly 20 per cent, of the dried root should at once distinguish this Gentian from other species. (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol.11, p. 510-511.)
800. G. decumbens, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 117.
Habitat : — Baltistan and Western Tibet, eastwards to Lahoul ; common on the Karakorum.
Stoutish herbs. Rootstock stout. Flowering stems 2-10in., simple. Radical leaves 2 by ¼-½in. ; cauline leaves l-l½in., oblong or elliptic, connate at the base into a tube. Flowers 1-2, subsessile in each upper axil, the upper 3-7 approximate, sub-capitate, the axillary clusters subremote or wanting. Calyx very unequal, often spathaceous or some of the teeth ovate, suddenly linear — pointed ; Calyx-tube ⅓in.; lobes 1/5in. but the tube is often split one side nearly to the base ; the lobes very unequal, 2-4, linear, 1-2, ovate, obtuse or obovate, with linear teeth. Corolla ¾-lin., funnel-shaped, lobes rounded. Capsule ½ by 1/6in., stalk ¼-⅓in. Seeds oblong, trigonous, falcate, twice as long as broad, subobtuse at both ends, testa close.
Uses :— A tincture prepared of this plant has been used as a stomachic by the Lahoul Missionaries (Stewart).
801. Swertia purpurascens, Wall, h.f.b.l, iv. 121.
Vern. :— Chiretta (H.).
Habitat : — Temperate North West Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon.
An annual herb, with stems 8-36in , solid, erect, terete, or 4-lanceolate. Leaves opposite, 3-1 — nerved, 1½ by ½in., oblong or lanceolate, base narrowed, lowest sub-obtuse ; uppermost acute, glabrous. Panicles divaricate, many-flowered, leafy ; pedicels often clustered. Flowers. 5-merous Sepals 1/6in., almost free, oblong, 1-nerved. Corolla-lobe ¼in., ovate, acute, purple or dark red, reflexed in flower ; pits solitary near the base of each lobe, horse-shoe-shaped, naked. Stamen tube erect, filaments puberulous, united into a short tube free from the Corolla. Anthers elliptic-lanceolate, much acuminate ; style long ; stigmas sublinear. Seeds 1/50in. diam., globose, smooth, light-yellow when ripe. " This species is recognised at once by the red-purple much-reflexed corolla-lobes." (C. B. Clarke).
Uses : — Collected as a substitute for true chirettah and exported to the plains.
802. S paniculata, Wall, h.f.b.l, iv. 122.
Vern.: — Kadavi (Mar.).
Habitat.: — Temperate Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Nepal.
Close resemblance to S. purpurascens when dried. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, 3-1-nerved. Sepals 1/5in., oblong, acute, sub-1-nerved. Corolla-lobes ¼in., ovate, acute, white in the upper half, patent, not reflexed in flower ; pit very near the base of the Corolla, 1 to each lobe, naked ; near the base of the Corolla-lobe are two purple or lurid-green sub-glandular marks, sometimes confluent into one. Filaments hardly dilated downwards, not puberulous, linear, separately attached to the Corolla-tube. Anthers oblong, not hastate. Style long, stigmas , linear. Capsule ½in., elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate. Seeds as of S. purpurascens, but rather smaller.
Use :— Used as a substitute for true chirettah. ​
803. S. Chirata, Ham. h.fb.l., iv. 124.
Syn :—Gentiana Chirayta, Roxb. 264. Ophelia Chirata, Griseb.
Vern. :—Charayatah (Hind. and Dec.); Qasabuzzarirah (Arab. and Pers.) ; Shiratkuchchi, nila-vémbu (Tam.); Níla vém (Tel.) ; Nila-véppa (Mal.); Nela-bevu (Kan.); Kiratatikta bhunimba(Sans.); Chirétá (Beng.); Kiráyat (Mr.); Chiravata (Guz.); Sekhági (Burm.); Chiráita, kiráíta (Bom.).
Habitat :—Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Bhotan and Khasia Mts.
Perennial herbs. Stem 2-dft., 4-lineolate or subterete.Leaves 2 by ¾in., the lower often much larger sometimes petioled. Cauline leaves subsessile, elliptic acute, 5-nerved. Panicles many-fid, large, leafy. Pedicies 0-¾in., fascicled, mostly short. Flowers 4-merous. Calyx-lobes 1/6in., lanceolate. Corolla lurid-green, yellow near the base of each lobe, 2 glandular depressions,each terminated by long hairs. Corolla-lobes ¼in., ovate, acuminate, more or less purple-nerved. Filaments linear, free. Anthers oblong. Style cylindric. Stigma oblong. Capsule ¼in., and upwards, ovate, acute; seeds 1/50in., polyhedral, smooth, testa close, not reticulated.
Uses:—The medicinal herb, as met with in the bazars, consists of bundles of dried twigs of brownish colour, “ and very bitter, but pleasant taste. The whole plant is used medicinally, but the root is said to be the most powerful. The natives consider it as tonic, stomachic and febrifuge, and prescribe a decoction or infusion of it, in the quantity of a small tea-cupful, twice daily” (Ainslie, Mat. Med. II., p. 373). Drury says it should not be taken as a decoction, but in infusion or watery extract or asa tincture. The boiling would, according to some others, injure the strength of the drug. Chiretta is much prized in India as a powerful tonic, pure bitter, without aroma or astringency. It is more bitter than English Gentian, and, while little used in Europe, it is reported to be especially serviceable in the dyspepsia of gouty subjects (Bentely & Trimen). The Sanskrit name Kiratatikta means “the bitter plant of the Kiratas, an outcast race of the mountaineers in ​ the North of India." It is sometimes mentioned as Naipala, indicating its coming from Nepal. Chiretta possesses the property of a bitter tonic, but, unlike most other medicines of this class, it does not constipate the bowels, but rather tends to produce a regular action. It causes a free discharge of bile while promoting a more healthy action, hence its position in European practice as a tonic to gouty persons. In his Hindu Materia Medica, U. C. Dutt says it is tonic, febrifuge and laxative, and is used in fever, burning of the body, intestinal worms and skin diseases. It is particularly useful as a tonic or mild febrifuge in fever. A powder containing about fifty ingredients and known as Sudarsana churna is much used in chronic febrile diseases by native doctors. It is an excellent bitter for children, and should be taken every morning, then discontinued for a time, thereafter to be resumed until the desired action has been produced. Moodeen Sheriff Khan Bahadur and several other authors have drawn attention to the adulterants of this most valuable medicine. Those most frequently seen are S. angustifolia, Ham. S. decussata. Nimmo ; S. elegans, Wight, (vide Balfour's Cyclopedia of India, 3rd Edition, Vol. I., p. 701)
At the request of the authors of the Pharmacographia, a chemical examination of chiretta was made by Hohn under the direction of Professor Ludwig of Jena. The chief results may be thus described. Among the bitter principles of the drug, Ophelic Acid, C$_{15}$H$_{20}$O$_{13}$ . occurs in the largest proportion. It is an amorphous, viscid, yellow substance of an acidulous, persistently bitter taste, and a faint gentian-like odour. With basic acetate of lead, it produces an abundant yellow precipitate. Ophelic acid does not form an insoluble compound with tannin ; it dissolves in water, alcohol and ether. The first solution causes the separation of protoxide of copper from an alkaline tartrate of that metal.
A second bitter principle, Chiratin, C$_{26}$H$_{48}$O$_{15}$ may be removed by means of tannic acid, with which it forms an insoluble compound. Chiratin is neutral, not distinctly crystalline, light yellow hygroscopic powder, soluble in alcohol, ether and in warm water. By boiling hydrochloric acid, it is decomposed into Chiratogenin, C$_{13}$H$_{24}$0$_3$ and Ophelic acid. Chiratogenin is a brownish, amorphous substance, soluble in alcohol but not in water, nor yielding a tannic compound. No sugar is formed in this decomposition.
The results exhibit no analogy to those obtained in the analysis of the European gentians. Finally Höhn remarked in chiretta a crystallisable, tasteless yellow substance, but its quantity was so minute that no investigation of it could be made. The leaves of chiretta. dried at 100° C., afforded 7.5 per ​ cent, of ash ; the stem 37, salts of potassium and calcium prevailing in both, (Pharmacographia, 2nd Ed., p. 487).
804. S. angustifolia, Ham. h.f.b.l, iv. 125.
Vern. : — Pahâri Chirâyatah (H.) ; Pahádi Kiraitâ (Mar.).
Habitat : — Subtropical Himalaya, from Chenab to Bhotan, common.
Stems l-3ft., 4-winged. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, sub-l- nerved, narrowed at the base, sepals oblong-linear, equalling the Corolla, in Wallich's type, often ½-⅔in., and greatly exceeding the Corolla. Corolla-lobes ½-⅔., usually white, with blue or black dots never lurid ; with one large orbicular gland near the base, " the large depression usually minutely pubes- cent on the margin, and partly closed by a scale" (C. B. Clarke). Stamens linear ; anthers oblong, scarcely hastate, Capsule ⅓ by 1/5in., ovate. Seeds 1/40in., polyhedral ; testa somewhat loose, glistening along the edges.
Uses:— In the United Provinces 0. angustifolia, D. Don, a common Himalayan species, is much used instead of 0. Chirata, and is called Pahari or Hill Chiretta, while the officinal plant, imported from the plains, is called Dakhani or Southern Chiretta (Royle).
805. S. affinis, Clarke. h.f.b.l, iv. 126.
Habitat :— Deccan Peninsula, from Chota Nagpore to the Pulneys.
Stems annual, erect, panicled, solid, virgate ; l-3ft. Leaves 1¾ by ⅓in., lanceolate, 3-nerved, base nanow. Cymes forming an elongate lax panicle. Panicle-branches sharply quadrangular ; pedicels O-lin., flowers 4-merous, not clustered. Sepals 1/5in., narrowly lanceolate. Corolla-lobes ¼ by ⅛in. long, oblong, shortly acute or subobtuse, white or with blue nerves, orbicular gland near the base large, completely covered by the large scale with pubescent margin. Filaments linear, not or scarcely dilated, free or nearly so ; anthers oblong, not or obscurely cordate, Style short, cylindric ; stigmas oblong. Capsule ​ ovate, acute, about as long as the Corolla. Seeds 1/40in. polyhedral ; testa close, minutely reticulated, so that the seeds appear often glistening (C. B. Clarke).
Uses : — According to Dr. Cleghorn (Indian Annals of Med. Sci, vol. iii., p. 271), 0. elegans, Wight, which inhabits the mountains of the Madras Peninsula, possesses powerful and persistent bitterness. He states that frequent trials with it confirm the belief that it exercises a tonic influence on the digestive organs, thereby improving the general health ; it appears also to possess some power as an antiperiodic. It is best given in the form of infusions in the proportion of two drachms to a pint of cold water. It appears equal, if not superior, to the officinal Chiretta (Ph. Ind.).
806. S. decussata, Nimmo. h.f.b.l, iv. 127.
Vern:— Silájit (Dec.) ; Kadú, (meaning "bitter" Mahablesh-war).
Habitat: — Common in the Western Deecan Peninsula, from the Concan to Travancore.
Herbs, with steins l-3ft, terete or 4- winged. Leaves sessile, ovate-obtuse, 1¼ by ¾in., numerous, approximate, decussate, 3-5-nerved. Corymbs very dense. Pedicels 0-½in., mostly short. Sepals ¼-½in., narrowly lanceolate. Corolla-lobes white, with blue nerves, with a round, depression at the base of each, ⅓ by 1/6in., broadly oblong, shortly acute ; covering scale shortly hairy, not very long.
Uses : — It forms an excellent substitute for Chiretta, and is so used in Bombay (Dalzell and Gibson, Bombay Flora p. 156). Particular attention has been called to it by Dr. Broughton Bombay Med. Phys. Trans, vol. vi., N. S., App., p. 58). The dried root, he states, occurs in pieces about two inches in length, of a diameter of a quill, giving off two or three rootlets, covered with a whitish brown epidermis, wrinkled longitudinally, white internally ; brittle. He considers that its medicinal action and uses are similar to those of Gentian and Chiretta, for which it may be advantageously ​ substituted. The dried plant appears also to be used for the same purposes (Ph. Ind.).
This and other species of Ophelia are common throughout the Himalaya, and several others occur in the mountains of the Madras Peninsula. They all possess strong bittter properties, and may, therefore, where they are indigneous, be substituted for the officinal Chiretta, which is rare to the west of Nepal, and is not found in Central or Southern India.
807. Menyanthes trifoliata, Linn, h.f.b.i., iv. 130.
Habitat : — Western Himalaya ; Kashmir.
Perennial herbs. Stems covered by lax sheathing petioles ; the lower leafless. Leaves alternate, 3-foliate, leaflets elliptic or oblong-obtuse, entire or obscurely wavy, subsessile 2 by 1 in. Petioles 3-8in. Peduncle 3-6in. . Raceme l-6in. Pedicels ⅓-¾in. Flowers white or bluish. Sepals 1/5in. Corolla ⅓-½in. Style ¼in. Capsule ¼-⅓in., sometimes bifid nearly to the base. Seeds 1/10in.
Use : — The leaves, the Buckbean or Boybean, are considered a valuable tonic and reckoned as one of the best of gentians.
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N. 0. HYDROPHYLLACEÆ.
808. Hydrolea zeylanica, Vahl. h.f.b.i., iv. 133 ; Roxb. 265.
Sans : — Langali.
Vern. : — Kasschara, isha-langulya (B.) ; Tsjeru-vallel (Malay).
Habitat : — Throughout India, in wet places.
An annual, unarmed herb. Stem 6-18in., usually decumbent and rooting at nodes below, glabrous, rather succulent, with short
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