636 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



" Doubtfully separable from the true Ginseng of Japan " 

 (Fl. Br. L, p. 721). 



Herbs l-2ft., with a whole of digitate leaves at its apex. 

 Root-stock horizontal, tuberous or tuberiterous. Stem '6-15 in , 

 erect smooth ; the scale at base deciduous, or persistent. Leaflets 

 lanceolate, with scattered bristles, especially on the upper surface, 

 5, rarely 3, 2-6 by |-IJin., acuminate, often caudate, rounded or 

 tapering at the base, closely serrate or deeply double serrate, gla- 

 brous, except the scattered bristles. Petiole l-6in., glabrous. 

 Petiolules 0-lin. Peduncles shorter or longer than the leaves, 

 glabrous or nearly so, solitary or 2-4, simple or with 2-5 umbel- 

 late heads; pedicels J-lin., pubescent or puberulous ; bracteoles 

 Jin., narrow lanceolate-linear. 



Flowers polygamo-monoeious ; styles 2-3, in the male some- 

 times united nearly to their summit Fruit red or half black, 

 half-red, shining, globose, sub-didymous. 



Use : — Ginseng enjoys in its native country the reputation 

 of a panacea, and especially of being aphrodisiac, The affections, 

 for the cure of which it is most esteemed, are such as are usual- 

 ly treated by aromatic stimulants, including dyspepsia, vomit- 

 ing, and nervous affections. It is used as a masticatory and also 

 in infusion, and is occasionally brought to India by the Chinese. 



587. -Heeler® Helix, Linn., h.f.b.l, ii. 739. 



Vern. : — Dudela (Nepal) ; Lablab (Beharj ; Halbambar, 

 arbambal (Jhelum) ; Kurol. (Chenab) ; Kuri, Karur (Ravi) ; 

 Brumbrum dakari (Beas) ; Karburu (Sutlej) Pb. 



Habitat : —Himalayas ; Khasia Hills. 



A glabrous, large, evergreen, woody climber, adhering to 

 trees, rocks or walls by means of numerous extra-axillary fine 

 rootlets. Leaves simple, leathery, 3-4in., dark-green and 

 shining above, varying from linear-lanceolate to cordate-ovate, 

 entire or variously-lobed, palmate or sub-pinnatifid ; base cordate, 

 rounded or cuneate ; petiole J-ljin., slender. Flowers 

 polygamous, yellowish green, in pedunculate globose umbels, 

 which again are arranged in sub-corymbose panicles ; peduncles 

 1-2 in., pedicels 5-8in. long, both clothed with stellate scales. 



