N. O. COMPOSITE. 675 



It is reported to have been used very successfully by Dr. 

 Mascarel in cases of dropsy {La France Medicale, Oct. 8, 1889). 

 He reduces the dried plant— stems, leaves and flowers — to a 

 coarse powder, and gives it in doses of one tablespoon ful, 

 beaten with an entire egg (yolk and white). He gives but one 

 dose on the first day ; but on each of the following days he adds 

 a tablespoonful, until seven or eight doses are being taken 

 during the twentyfour hours. The diuresis is said to continue 

 until oedema permanently disappears. 



Very little is known about the chemistry of this genus. Volatile oils have 

 been obtained from 4 American Species but with the exception of Solidago 

 canadensis, L, nothing is known about their chemistry. Chemical Abstracts, 

 Feb. 20 p. 521. 



633. Grangea maderaspatana, Poir. y h.f.b.l, 



hi. 247. 



Syn. — Artemisia maderaspatana, Roxb. 600. 



Vern. — Mustaru(Hind.) ; Namuti(Beng.) ; Afsanteen (Arab) ; 

 Baranjasif kowhi (Pers.) ; Mashi pattiri (Tarn.) ; Douana (Kan.) ; 

 Nelampala (Mai.) ; Savi (Tel.) 



Habitat. — Throughout India, from the Punjab eastwards 

 and southwards. 



Annual, stems numerous, spreading from centre, prostrate, 

 6-12in., hairy branched, buds white woolly. Leaves numerous, 

 lj-2^in., sessile, deeply, sinnuately pinnatifid, with 2-4 pair of 

 opposite or sub-opposite lobes, smaller towards the base, termi- 

 nal part larger, all coarsely serrate, dentate, pubescent. Heads 

 yellow, f-Jin., depressed, globose, on short pedicels, usually in 

 pair on leaf opposed peduncle ; involucre-bracts oval, obtuse, 

 thick and rigid, pubescent. Corolla-tube campanulate above, 

 persistent, lobes acute ; pappus hairs connate into a cylindric 

 fimbriate tube. Achenes glandular, x^in., long including the 

 pappus tube. 



Uses. — The leaves are regarded as a valuable stomachic and 

 to possess deobstruent and antispasmodic properties, and are 

 prescribed in infusion and electuary in cases of obstructed 

 menses and hysteria. They are also sometimes used in pre- 



