390 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Uses : — It is considered to be antiseptic by the Hindus, and 

 its juice is rubbed over the body in pestilent fevers. Rheede no- 

 tices its use for this purpose, and also internally in dysentery com- 

 bined with ginger, cumin, and other aromatics. He also states 

 that a liniment is made from the plant with cocoanut oil which 

 is used in elephantiasis. Roxburgh, under the name of Calum- 

 nea balsamea, describes the plant and notices its grateful odour 

 and aromatic taste. The Bengal name signifies " Camphor." 

 The odour of the fresh plant is remarkably refeshing and agree- 

 able and^calis to mind that of camphor and oil of lemons. (Phar- 

 macographia Indica, HI — 7). 



889. Herpestis Monniera, E. B. and K. h.f.b.i., 



iv. 272, 



Syn. : — Gratiola Monniera, Li?in. Roxb. 47. 



Vern. : — Brahmi, jal-nim, shwet chamni (Hind.) ; Adhabirni 

 (Beng.); Urishnaparni (Uriya) ; Bama, Nirbrahmi (Bom.); Beami 

 nirpirimie (Tarn.) ; Sembranichitiu (Tel.). 



Habitat :— Common in marshes throughout India, from the 

 Punjab to Ceylon. 



Marshy glabrous, often punctate herbs ; creeping, rather 

 succulent ; branches 4-10in. long, rooting at the joints. Leaves 

 i-f-in, opposite, fleshy, sessile, obtuse, entire in the Indian 

 plant, ovate-oblong or spathulate ; nerves very obscure ; 

 lower surface dotted. Peduncles usually longer than the leaves, 

 and-2 bracteoled. Flowers pale blue, purple-veined, single on 

 alternate, axillary stalks. Calyx -g-§-in. long, 5-parted, upper 

 sepal ovate, Corolla cylindric, twice as long ; lobes and stamens 

 subequal, anthers sagittate or didynamous ; style linear ; stigma 

 capitate, 2-lobed capsule included, ovoid, acute. Seeds pale, irre- 

 gular, numerous. 



Parts used : — The root, stalks and leaves. 



Uses :— It is considered by the Hindu physicians a nervine 

 tonic, useful in insanity, epilepsy and hoarseness (Dutt). 



It is regarded by the Hindus as a powerful diuretic and 

 apperient (Ainslie, Mat. Ind., vol. ii, p. 239), but there is no 

 trustworthy evidence of its value in these respects. According 



