668 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



middle, slightly hirsute on the knots. Leaves opposite, stipu- 

 late, somewhat fleshy, lower ones quite entire, ovate bluntly 

 acuminated, long-petioled, radical ones often emarginate at the 

 base ; uppermost or small pair somewhat sessile, narrow oblong, 

 entire or toothed along the margin. Corymb terminal, trichoto- 

 mous, panicled, with a pair of foliaceous bracts, similar to the 

 uppermost leaves subtending the principal branches, C. B. 

 Clarke describes this plant in Hooker's F. B. L, Vol III, p. 214, 

 as a variety of V. Leschenaultii, D.C., and says that the cau- 

 line leaves are small, undivided or hardly any, fruit glabrous. 

 Clarke further observes thus : — The scapose form has some- 

 times hairy fruits and Wight has been unable in his own herba- 

 rium to settle what he would call V. Leschenaultii and what V. 

 Brunoniana. 



Use : — It affords a root which develops a strong odour of valeric 

 acid when dry, and yields to distillation with water a consider- 

 able amount of volatile oil. Dr. G. Bidie has recommended it as 

 a good substitute for European Valerian (Pharmacographia 

 Indica II p. 240.) 



N. 0. DIPS&CE^L 



624. Morina persica, Linn, h.f.b.i., hi. 216. 



Vern. : — Bekh ahmar (H.) 



Habitat : — Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon. 



Glabrous or softly pubescent herbs. Stems tall, li-4ft. 

 Leaves 6 by lin., sessile, up to 9in., doubtly spinous-toothed 

 hard, pubescent or glabrous. Flowers in axillary clusters ; 

 white or faintly tinged with pink. Spikes elongate. Bracts 

 free or nearly so, and involucels hairy or villous. Calyx-lobes 

 subequal, obovate, oblong, entire or emarginate. ^--^-in., by i-J-in. 

 Corolla-tube 1-l^in. Stamens 2 perfect, 2 rudimentary. Fila- 

 ments longer that the Corolla-lobes. Stigma broad, disk-like. 

 Achenes free within the involucel. In Kerner's Natural History 

 of Plants 11,352. Oliver's English Translation, 1895, London, the 

 flower of Morina persica is cited as instance of Autogamy " by 



