172 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



tonic properties, and has been found very useful in febrile 

 affections and some forms of dyspepsia, and also in mild cases 

 of debility from previous illness. (Moodeen Sheriff.) • 



151. 8. rhombifolia, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 323. 

 Roxb. 517. 



Sans.: — Atibala (Sanskrit) Mahabala, Pitapushpa. 



Vern.: — Lal-bariala or berela (Ben. and Hind.) ; (Sinha- 

 lese) Kotikan-bevila ; (Tamil) Chittamaddi ; (Porebunder and 

 Gujrat) Khetara ubal dana ; (Marathi) Chikna, Sadeva ; (Hindi) 

 Sahadeva, Pitabala ; Sahadeva. J.— Indraji. 



N. B. Sahadevi (Sanskrit) is the name of Vernonia cineria. 

 (K. R. K). 



Habitat : — Throughout India. 



A shrubby, erect herb ; perennial, very variable, glabrous, 

 or with scattered stellate hairs. Leaves polymorphous, gene- 

 rally more or less rhomboid, underside hoary, rarely green ; 

 tapering at the base. Stipules linear- setacous, longer than the 

 petiole. Peduncle longer than the petiole ; rarely less than 

 twice as long as the petiole, axillary, or clustered at the ends of 

 the branches. Flowers mostly yellow ; rarely white. Sepals 

 deltoid, acuminate. Carpels smooth or reticulate, 10, awned or 

 not, as long as the Calyx (Maxwell T. Masters). This species 

 and its allies yield good fibre. Widely distributed through- 

 out India and Tropics in both Hemispheres. 



Use : — The medicinal properties of this species resemble 

 those of other species. 



152. S. rhombifoila, Var. retusa, Linn, h.f.b.i., 

 i. 324., Roxb. 517. 



Vern.: — Jangli-methi (H. and Dec); Ban-methi (Beng.) ; 

 Mayir-mannikkam 'Tel.) Arb : — Hulbahe-bari. Pers : — Sham- 

 blide-bari. 



Stems prostrate, thick and woody, much-branched. Leaves 

 very small, cuneate-obovate, retuse, apiculate ; ripe carpel, 



