142 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



N. 0. HYPERICINEJE. 

 125. Hypericum patulum, Thunb., h.f.b.l, i. 254. 



Vern. : — Tumbhul (Behari). 



Habitat: — Throughout the Temperate Himalaya (Sikkim 

 excepted), from Bhotan to Simla and Chamba ; also in the 

 Khasia Mountains and Yunnan. 



A shrub. Leaves distichous, i-l% in. long, narrowed 

 rhomboid or elliptical, very shortly petioled, black-dotted and 

 rusty beneath ; margins reflexed. Flowers 1 in. diam. Sepals 

 i in. Petals yellow, orbicular or elliptical, longer than the 

 stamens. Styles equalling the ovary, but exceeding the stamens. 

 Capsules obtusely conical, i-^ in. long. 



Dr. Hooker writes in the Botanical Magazine, for Febru- 

 ary 1st, 1868:- 



"It is a native of Japan, where it was discovered by 

 Thunberg ninety years ago, * * As a species, it is very nearly 

 allied to the H. uralum, Hamilton, of Nepal, and will probably 

 prove to be a large- flowered variety of that plant. It is very 

 variable in the foliage, which is flat or has recurved margins, 

 and is green or rust-coloured beneath." 



Part used :— The seed. 



Use : — The scented seeds are employed as an aromatic sti- 

 mulant in Patna, where they are imported from Nepal (Irvine). 



126. H. perforatum., Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 255. 



Vern. : — Balsant, dendlu (H. & Pb.) 



Habitat : — Temperate Western Himalaya, from Kumaon to 

 Kashmir. 



A perennial herb. Stems erect, 2-edged, 18 in., with 

 slender stolons branched above Leaves oblong or ovate, pel- 

 lucid-punctate, § in., obtuse, with radiating veins, paler beneath, 

 with black dots. Cymes corymbose, 3-chotomously branched ; 

 flowers 1 in., sepals J in., 5, linear, acute connate ; 3-delphous 

 at the base ; margins of the sepals eglandular. Petals persistent 

 with black glandular edges. Ovary 3-celled ; styles twice the 



