VERBENACE^. 57 



that are easily decomposed by certain neutral solvents, such as 

 petroleum spirit, which dissolves the rhiuacanthin and assumes 

 a yellow colour. {Pharm. Zeitch. f. RmsL, Feb. 1881 ; Year 

 Book of Pharm., 1881, p. 197.) 



VEliBENACE^. 



LIPPIA NODIFLORA, i?^/'. 



Flg.— Wlght III, f. 173 b,fg. 2, and Ic.J. Um]; Slhth. Fl. 

 Gr., t. 553; Lam. III., t. 17. 



Hab. — Throughout India and Ceylon. The herb. 



Venwcular.—^xxU^^n {Hind.), Bhui-okra [Beng.], Ratolia, 



Vakkau {3Iar.), Ratavalio [Guz.), Podutalai {Tom.), Bokenaku 

 {Tel.). 



History, Uses, &c. — According to Ainslie, the Sanskrit 

 name is Vasira, but the Nighantas do not mention any plant 

 bearing this name. ^^K, with the synonym of Vasuka occurs, 

 however, in Sanskrit literature, as the name of a plant. L. 

 difiora is considered by the Hindus to be febrifuge and 



diuretic, and is administered in gonorrhoea combined with 



cumin seed. Locally it is applied in the form of paste to 

 promote suppuration. The author of the Mahhzan-el-Adwiya 

 describes it under the name of Bukkan as hot and dry; he states 

 that an infusion is useful in the febrile stage of colds, and 

 that it is diuretic and useful in lithiasis. A poultice composed 

 of the fresh plant is a good maturant for boils. 



Ainslie has the following notice of it : " The tender stalks 

 and leaves, which are In a slight degree bitter, the native practi- 

 tioners prescribe, when toasted, in infusion, in cases of children's 

 indigestions, to the extent of two ounces twice daily ; it is also 



sometimes 



The 



plant Is a native of Southern Italy and Sicily, as well as India, 

 and has at different times had very different appellations bestowed 



XII.— 8 



