N. 0. COMPOSITE. 689 



651. Spilanthes Acmella, Linn., h.f.b.l, hi 307. 

 Habitat: — Throughout India. 



An annual herb, more or less pubescent, sometimes hairy. 

 Stems prostrate near the base or ascending, l-2ft., much bran- 

 ched, cylindric, more or less hairy. Leaves opposite, f-ljin., 

 ovate, ovate-lanceolate, suddenly tapering at base, acute, faintly 

 and irregularly serrate, glabrous or nearly so, thin, somewhat 

 3-nerved ; petiole long, slender pilose. Beads apparently ter- 

 minal, really axillary on long glabrous peduncles, ovate ovoid, 

 bracts leafy, lanceolate, subacute ; discoid or radial, i-fin. long, 

 solitary. Receptacle narrowly conical, or covered with concave 

 scales, each enclosing the lower part of the flower. Flowers 

 yellow (or white, Collett), mostly 2-sexual, or the outer female, 

 and shortly rayed. Pappus none, 1 or 2 bristles. Corolla 

 bell-shaped, tube, short, lobes triangular, 4, spreading. Achenes 

 flattened, oblong, dark-brown, dull, each enclosed in a 

 scale. 



Uses: — The flower-heads are by far the most pungent part, 

 and are chewed by the natives to relieve toothache, which they 

 do by producing redness of the gums and salivation. Dr. W. 

 Farquhar has used and recommended a tincture of the flower- 

 heads for toothache, in place of tincture of pyrethrum. He says 

 it is a specific for inflammation of the periosteum of the jaws. 

 A bit of lint, dipped in the tincture and laid on the gums, 

 repeated 3 or 4 times a day, has a speedy effect in reducing 

 the pain and swelling (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II. p. 283). 



652. 8. oleraeea, Jacq. h.f.b.l, hi. 307 ; Roxb. 



(Reduced to a variety of S. Acmella. Linn, Fl. Br. Ind.) p. 

 307, Vol. HI by D. Hooker. 



Vern. : — Akara (Bomb.); Roshuniya (B,) ; Akarkarhn, Po- 

 kurmul (Pb. ; Ukra (M.) Maratimogga, Maratitige (Tel.). 

 Habitat: — Cultivated in gardens throughout India. 



With regard to variety, Oleracea Clarke, J. D. Hooker re- 

 marks thus : — " More robust and succulent, heads and leaves 



larger, peduncles subsolitary, achenes as in variety Acmella 

 87 



