672 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



oil is of a light yellow colour and very viscid ; it deposits M stearin " on 

 standing. 



Physical and chemical characteristics.— Pat : Specific gravity at 100°, 

 0*9168 ; acid value, 58*2 ; saponification value, 202*88 ; Reichert-Meissl value, 

 7'88 ; iodine value, 7T0 ; unsaponifiable, 1-79 ; butyro-refractometer'at 25°, 75°. 

 Fatty acids : per cent. 9 1*6 ; melting point, 35*6°; iodine value, 73*4; neutrali- 

 sation value, 1951 ; mean molecular weight, 287'4. (A. K. Menon.) 



628. Elephantopsus scaber, Linn., h.f.b.l, hi. 242 ; 

 Roxb. 607. 



Sans. — Gojivha. 



Vern.— Gobhi (H.) ; Kalia gangawan (Chanda, C.P.) ; 

 Gojialata, Samdlullum (B.) ; Hastipata, Mhaka, Pathri (Bomb.); 

 Anashovacli (Tarn.); Tal Muli ; Murgi Chundi (Jaspur). 



Habitat. — Throughout India, from the Punjab. 



A rigid, perennial herb, dichotomously branched, l-2ft.,high, 

 strigose, scabrid and villous. Leaves alternate. Radical leaves 

 ovate, oblong, crenate. Cauline leaves few, sessile. Head 

 clusters of lin, diam., surrounded by cordate, leafy bracts. 

 Involucre-bracts pungent, dry, stiff, alternately flat and con- 

 duplicate ; receptacle naked. Flowers violet or purple, all 

 equally 4-lobed and cleft on one side and with lobes spreading 

 somewhat palmately. Anthers bases obtuse. Style arms sub- 

 ulate. Achenes truncate, hairy, 10-ribbed, pappus of 4-5 

 rigid bristles, shining, slender, and dilated at the base, or chaff- 

 like. The most noteworthy point with reference to this plant 

 is that the embryo not unfrequently germinates in the head. 



Uses. — A decoction of the root and leaves is given, on the 

 Malabar Coast, in cases of dysuria (Rheede). 



In Travancore, the natives are reported to boil the bruised 

 leaves with rice, and give them internally for swellings or pains 

 in the stomach (Watt). 



In Chutia Nagpur, a preparation from the root is given for 

 fever (Revd. A. Campbell). 



629. Ageratum conyzoides, Linn, h.f.b.l, hi. 243 



Syn. — A. cordifolium, Roxb. 597. 



Vern. — Dochunti (B.) ; Osadi, Sahadvi, Gomera (Bomb.) 



Habitat. — Throughout India. 



