SClTAMINWM 415 



Haja-nirg'liaiita. It is much cultivated in gardens by the 

 Hindus, whose women use the aromatic leaves and roots as a 

 perfume when washing their hair; on this account the 

 vci'uacular names TJtnen and Kapur-kachri have Leen given to 

 it in Western India, as its odour exactly resembles that of tho 

 root oi Uedijchium spicatum^ which is sold in the bazars as a 

 Kainir-Jirfclirij and is an ingredient in the TJtnen or perfumed 

 powder for the hair, which has been described in Vol. ii., p. 234. 

 lihcedc states that the tubers reduced to powder and mixed 

 with honey arc given in couglis and pectoral affections^ boiled 

 in oil they are applied externally to remove obstructions in the 

 nasal passages. In tho Did. Econ. Prod, of India [lY ^ 561), it 

 is stated on the authority of ilason that the I'oots are often seen 

 attached to the necklaces of Karen women, for the sake of their 

 perfume, and that they also place them in their clothes for the 

 same reason. They arc also said to be used as a masticatory 

 along with betel leaves and areca nut. 



Description. — The roots consist of branched tubers, 

 resembling ginger in form, which give off fleshy fibres bearing 



white pendulous tubers ; they have a peculiarly agreeable 

 camphoraceous odour, exactly like that of the Kapur-kachri of 

 the bazars. The leaves are radical, petioled, ovate-cordate, 

 between acute and obtuse; margins membranaceous and waved; 

 upper surface smooth, deep green; under surface pale and 

 somewhat woolly. The leaves are much crowded, but when they 

 can find room they spread flat on the surface of the earth, the 

 petioles are hid beneath the soil and form cylindric sheaths 

 enclosing the fascicles of flowers, which are of a pellucid white, 

 or white marked with purple sj)ots, and have the same fragrant 

 odour as the leaves and roots. All parts of the plant have a 

 bitterish and camphoraceous taste. 



The roots arc not met with in commerce, but, judging from 

 some which we have sliced and dried, would ap2:)ear to be 

 copable of supplying an article equal to the Kapur-lcachri of the 

 shops. ' (Sec Ih\hjchlnm Hpkalnm). The plant is cultivated 

 with the greatest ease, and yiulds a large crop of roots. 



