124 LABI ATM. 



These plants are also used in Hindu ritual ; during tKe cere- 



Nar 



gious 



round tlie body, while bathing, of a sprig of Drana-pmhpi of 

 Achyranthes aspera (^apamdrga)^ and of Cassia Tora (prapunaia), 

 cf. Yol. II., p. 65. The Mahometan physicians have given these 



plants the name of Sisdliyus, and use them as a suT^titute for 

 the true Slsaliyus {Mj/rrhis odorata), as stimulant diaphoretics. 

 Rheede notices the use of L. aspera in Malabar, and the ^ame 



Under the name of 



JTet^ba admiratioms a species of Leucas, probably L. linifoUdy is 

 described by Runiphius, In Western India L, zeylanica is 



. These plants are 



eunion 



much 



pul 



the leaves snuffed up by the nostrils is used as a remedy in snake-^ 

 bites, and for headache and colds. An infusion is known as un 

 insecticide, and planters and others on the Nilgiris find that blight 



and insect pests may be kept away from trees by a diligent 

 application of this remedy. The flowers are offered in the 

 Hindu temples. In Reunion L. zeylanica is known as EeiM 

 Tomhee^ and is considered to be stimulant and antirheumatic. 



Descript 



diffuse 



stout, hispid or scabrid, leaves 1 to 3 inches^ linear or oblong 

 obtuse, entii-e or crenate, whorls large, terminal and axillary^ 

 bracts long, linear and filiform, ealj^x | to f of an inch, tubu- 

 lar, curved, smooth below, green and ribbed and scabrid above, 

 contracted above the nutlets, mouth small, glabrous, ver)' 

 oblique, shortly and irregularly toothed, flowers small^ whit«- 

 L- liulfoUa and L. zeylanica are very similar plants, and 

 X. cephahtes has very large terminal and globose whorls oi 

 flowers. These plants have an odour recalling that of the 

 Dead-nettle (Lamium album), but L. asjjcm is more fragrant 

 than the others. 



Chemical co?nposition .—The herb of i. zeylanica on distillation 

 afforded a very small quantity of essential oil. By boiling » 



with 



\v 



