848 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Use : — In Hindu medicine this plant is regarded as laxative, 

 alterative and tonic, and is much praised as a nervine. It is 

 also used in insanity, epilepsy, and nervous debility. The 

 fresh juice of the plant is given in all cases of insanity, in 

 doses of about an ounce (Dutt). 



798. Oentiana tenella, Fries, h.f.b.l, IV. 109. 

 Vera. :— Tita (Pb.K 



Habitat :— Common in Kashmir and W. Himalaya. 



An erect or straggling herb, 4-lineolate, branched. Stem 

 2-10in. Leaves oblong or ovate, \ by |-in., lowest spa- 

 thulate. Pedicels (many of them) long, terminal, solitary, 

 l-3|in. Calyx-tube hardly any ; lobes \ by T T in., elliptic, 

 often unequal. Corolla fimbriate in the throat, tubular, 5-lobed, 

 tube \ by i-lin., lobes Jin., elliptic, capsule fin., oblong- 

 linear, sessile. 



Use: — Aitchison says that in Lalioul a decoction of the 

 leaves and stems of this and other species is given in fevers 

 (Watt). 



799. 0. Kurroo, Boyle, h.f.b.l iv. 117 



Vern. : — Karii, kutki (Beng. and Hind.); Nilkant, kamalphul, 

 milakil (Pb.). 



Habitat ' — Common in Kashmir and N.-W. Himalaya. 



Roolstook. thick. Stems tufted, decumbent, 4-12in. Leaves 

 narrowly oblong. Radical leaves collected into a rosette. 3-5 by 

 i-|in. Stem-leaves lin., narrower. Flowers blue, spotted with 

 white, lf-2in. long, fin. diam., solitary or racemose. Calyx 

 about half as long as the Corolla ; lobes linear. Corolla 5-lobed 

 Capsule oblong (Collett), f by Jin. Stalk J-Jin. Seeds twice 

 as long as broad, acute at one end, subcordate at the other 

 (C. B. Clarke). 



Uses : — The root is medicinally used as a bitter tonic, and as 

 substitute for the true Gentian. On the hills it is viewed as a 

 febrifuge. Used principally as a masala for fattening horses 

 (Calthrop). Acts as an aperient in larger doses (Gray). Said 



