N. O. POLYGALACE^E. 131 



chronic rheumatism. It must, however, be employed with 

 caution, as in certain cases it is said to act as a gastro-intestinal 

 irritant, producing vomiting and purging (Watt.) 



N. 0. POLYGALACEJJ. 



112. Polygala erotalarioides, Ham. H.F.B.I., 

 i. 201. 



Vern. : — Lil Kathi (San tali). 



Habitat : — Common in Simla, in rock-crevices. Temperate 

 Himalaya, from Chamba Hill to Siklnm, Khasia Mts. 



A perennial, densely hairy herb. Rootstock woody, often 

 tuberous. Stems thick, short, decumbent. Branches long, 

 spreading. Leaves nearly sessile, ovate or oblong-ovate, 

 \-2 in. Bracts sessile. Flowers purple, crowded in axillary 

 racemes. Calyx persistent. Keel-petal crested. Capsule 

 heart-shaped, fringed. Seeds hairy. Strophiole, with 2 small 

 ovate appendages. 



Parts used : — The entire plant and the root. 



Use :— Used medicinally by the natives in catarrhal 

 affections ; deserving of further attention. (Ph. Ind., p. 29.) 



Royle states that the plant was sent to him with the infor- 

 mation that the root was employed as a cure for snake-bite 

 by the hill people of the Himalaya. This fact is of interest, 

 since P. Senega is similarly used in South America (Watt.) 



113. P. chinensis, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 204. 



Syn. : — P. arvensis, Willd ; Roxb. 531. 



Vern. : — Meradu or Miragu (H.) ; Gaighura (Santal.) ; Negli 

 (Mar.) Pili Bhoysana (Guj. and Porebunder). 



Habitat : — Throughout India, from the Punjab to Pegu, 

 and in the Western Peninsula. In Porebundar State (Barda. 

 Mt.) 



An annual herb, most variable, usually procumbent, 

 leafy, rather stout, 3-10 in. high, glabrous or pubescent. 



