N. 0. BURIACEiE. 663 



617. Spermacoce hispida, Linn. III. 200 ; Roxb. 

 125. 



Vem. : — Nutteechoorie (Tarn.) ; Thartavel (Mai.) ; Madana- 

 ghanti (Tel.) ; Ghanta-chibaji (Concan) ; Madana ghanti (H ; ) ; 

 Pitua arak (Santal). 



Habitat : — Throughout India, from the Western Himalaya at 

 Simla, to Assam, and southwards to Ceylon. 



Procumbant herb, scabrid hispid or hirsute. Root-stock 

 annual or perennial. Branches 6-14in., ascending, stout, 4- 

 angled. Leaves subsessile, \-\\ by i-fin., often rounded at the 

 tip, rigidly coriaceous, ovate, spathulate, oblong or elliptic 

 obtuse or acute, margins plater-waved, sometimes thickened and 

 cartilaginous. Flowers 4-6 in a whorl. Calyx-teeth linear- 

 lanceolate. Corolla jhiin., blue or white. Stigmas 2, very short 

 Capsule ^in. long, hispid or pubescent, rounded at base. Seeds 

 oblong, granulate, opaque, very variable, lo-i* 11 - long, narrow 

 or broad. 



Use : — The root possesses properties similar to Sarsaparilla. 

 It is used as an alterative, and is generally prescribed in the 

 form of a decoction (Ainslie). The seeds have been recommended 

 as a substitute for coffee. 



618. Rubia cordifolia, Linn, h.f.b.i., hi. 202. 

 Syyi. : — R. Munjista, Roxb. 125. 



Sans. : — Manjishtha. 



Vem. : — Majith, Manjit (H. and Bomb.) ; Munjith, Aroona 

 (B.) ; Manjiti, shevelli (Tarn.) ; Poont (Mai.) ; Mandastic, Tamra- 

 valli (Tel.) ; Manjustha (Kan.) ; Itari (Bomb). 



Habitat : — Throughout the hilly districts of India, from the 

 N.-W. Himalaya eastwards, and southwards to Ceylon and 

 Malacca. 



A scandent herb. Root perennial, very long, cylindric, flex- 

 uose, with a thick cortex. Stems very long, often many yards, 

 becoming slightly woody at base, flexible, tough, cylindric. 

 Bark white, branches scandent, by means of the many numerous 

 divaricate or deflexed branchlets and petioles, quadrangular, 



