736 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



N. 0. PLUMBAGINEJ3 



712. Plumbago zeylaniea, Linn., H.F.B.I., III. 

 480 ; Rosb. 155. 



Sans. : — Agni-shikha, Chitraka. (Also Vahni , and all the 

 other names of fire. Roxburgh). 



Vern. : — Chitra, chita, chitarak (Hind.); Chitu (Beng.) ; 

 Shitaraj (Arab.) ; Shitaruk (Pers.) ; Chatrmul, Chitrakmul, (Dec.) ; 

 Venchittira (Tarn.) ; Tella-chitra (Tel.); Kotuveli (Mat); Sudu- 

 nitul (Cingh.) ; Kn-khen-pbfu (Burm.) ; Chitrak (Bom). 



Habitat : — Cultivated, and wild throughout India. Common 

 in Bengal, South India, and Kumaun hills. 



An evergreen perennial herb, or undershrub, diffuse, ram- 

 bling. Stems several, 2-5ffc., eylindric, glabrous striate. Root 

 long, succulent, often much contorted, substantial, diffuse, strait- 

 ed longitudinally, 4-5ft. long, procumbent branches, on reach- 

 ing the soil, often strike root. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, 

 entire sessile, l|-3Jin. long, lin. broad, ovate. Petiole fin., base 

 dilated, amplexicaul. Spikes 4-12in., often branched ; rachis of 

 the spike pubescent or glandular. Flowers white, scentless, re- 

 gular, bisexual, in long spike-like racemes, the rachis glandular, 

 striate. Bracts and bracteoles persistent, leafy, shorter than 

 the Calyx. Calyx inferior, free, i-Jin. by j^iia., persistent, 

 narrowly tubular or spindle-shaped ; 5-10 ribbed, often hyaline 

 between the ribs, mouth frequently funnel-shaped, scarious ; seg- 

 ments five, with membranous margins, covered with short, large, 

 stalked, spreading, globose, crimson glands ; teeth very short. 

 Corolla inferior, persistent, tubular ; tube lin., slender ; lobes 

 5, spreading, nearly Jin. long, oval ovate or ovoid, acute. Stamens 

 5, free, hypogynous, opposite the petals ; filaments free, as long- 

 as the Corolla- tube, linear, dilated at base ; anthers protruded, 

 2-celled. Ovary superior, I-celled, 5-angular, narrowed at apex. 

 Style simple filiform, divided into 5 stigmatose branches, nearly 

 throughout the length. Stigmas 5, capillary and quite distinct. 

 Ovule solitary. Capsule membranous, oblong, sharply pointed, 

 included within the persistent Calyx and Corolla ; pericarp 

 thickened above. Dehiscence circumciss near the base. Seed 

 cylindrical or oblong rotund. 



