686 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



A marsh herb, usually quite glabrous, sometimes pubescent 

 or glandular; stems l-2fc, elongate, simple or divaricating, 

 branches rooting at the nodes. Leaves sessile, linear-oblong, 

 acute or obtuse, entire or subcrenate, l-3in., variable in 'breadth, 

 base narrowed or truncate. Heads axillary and terminal sessile, 

 5-i'in. outer dorsally, inner sometimes literally compressed, 

 pappus absent. 



Uses : — The leaves of this aquatic plant are regarded as 

 laxative and useful in diseases of the skin and nervous system. 

 The fresh juice of the leaves, in doses of about a tola, is pres- 

 cribed by some kavirajas in Calcutta, as an adjunct to tonic 

 metallic medicines, given in neuralgia and other nervous 

 diseases (Dutt). 



The leaves are antibilious (K. L. Dey). Expressed juice of the 

 leaves is used as demulcent in cases of gonorrhoea ; it is taken 

 mixed with milk, either of cow or goat. The leaves are 

 pounded and made into a paste which is applied cold over the 

 head as a cooling agent (Assistant-Surgeon Mookerji, in 

 Watt's Dictionary). 



Useful in the torpidity of the liver. The infusion should be 

 made the previous evening. It is boiled with rice and used with 

 mustared oil and salt; dose infusion, one drachm. (Mr. Forsyth, 

 f.r.c.s,, in Watt's Dictionary). 



649. Eclipta alba, Hassh, h.f.b.l, hi. 304. 



Syn. : — E. prostrata, Roxb. 605. 



Sans. : — Kesaraja ; also Bhringaraja (K.R.K.). 



Vern. :— Mocli Kand, Bhangra, Babri, Maka, Dodhak 

 (Pb.) ; Mik (Sind.) ; Kesuti, Keysuria (B^ ; Karisha langauni, 

 Kaikeshi, Kaivishi-ilai, Kaiantagarie (Tarn.) ; Goontagelinjeroo 

 (Tel). Bhaugra (U.). 



Habitat :— From the Himalaya throughout India. 



Hirsute or strigillose annual, erect or diffuse, branched, 

 slender weed. Leaves opposite, sessile, linear or oblong- 

 lanceolate, narrowed at both ends, l-4in. long, very varia- 

 ble in form and width. Peduncles 1-2, axillary, short or 

 long, and slender. Involucre bracts ovate obtuse, or acute, 

 about equally or exceeding the flowers. Heads Hia. diam. 



