GEN TIANACEA), BLS 
Swertia decussata—Nimmo, Wight Ill., t. 157, bis f. 
3 f., Syn.—Ophelia multiflora, a native of the West Deccan 
Peninsula; is used’ under the name of Siléjit as a substitute for 
chiretta. The whole plant is bitter, but the root is preferred, 
and is said. by Dr. Broughton and others who have used it to 
be an excellent substitute for gentian. ‘It is not an article of 
commerce, but. is sold in the bazar at Mahableshwar under the 
name of Kadé, which simply means “ bitter.”” The 8S. corym: 
bosa on the Nilgiris, and the 8. pulehella on the Pulneys, are 
used as tonics in place of the true chiretta. 
Description.—Stem quadrangular, 4-winged, ascending 
densely leafy ; leaves round ovate ; stem clasping, 5-nerved, 
-mucronulate, glabrous, decussate , cymes many-flowered ; ealyx 
divisions lanceolate, acuminate ; corolla white, 4-divided, seg- 
ments ovate, elliptic, their rounded pits surrounded hy long 
fringes; filaments united at the very base; capsules. large, 
cylindrical, erect; seeds minute. Root of the diameter of a 
: quill, giving off two or three rootlets, covered, with a whitish- 
brown epidermis, when dry wrinkled longitudinally, white 
internally, and brittle, a i 
ENICOSTEMA LITTORALE, Blume. — : 
Fig.—Bot. Mag. ii., t. 28; Wight Ic. t. 600. 
Hab.— Throughout India, except in Bengal. The plant. 
_ Vernacular.— Chhota-kirdyat (Hind.), Mamijva ((ruz.), 
Nella-galli (Tel.), Vellurugu (Tam.). 
History, Uses, &c.—This plant does not appear to 
have been noticed by Sanskrit writers on Materia Medica, but 
it is popularly known in many parts of India, aloug with seve- 
ral other bitter herbs as a kind of Kirdyat. It is most abundant 
in moist situations near the coast, and is also found in Tropical 
Africa and the West Indies. Roxburgh describes it under the 
name of Gentiana verticillata, but says nothing about its medi- — 
cinal properties. In the Pharmacopeia of India it is noticed 
‘Under the name of Cicendia hyssopifolia. cons ote 
oe 2301 aie oa sateen 
