N. O. ACANTHAOE^. ( J&1 



broadly bordered, with white scarious margins. Bractlets linear- 

 lanceolate, acute. Capsule Jin., oblong-ovoid, pubescent. Seeds 

 with concentric furrows. Anther-cells superposed, lower white 

 tailed. Corolla white, with rose or purple spots (C. B. Clarke). 

 Ovary glabrous ; style thinly hairy at base. 



Flowers, says Trimen from Ceylon, " violet, with red dots, 

 thin clots in the throat." 



Uses : — The leaves resemble, both in smell and taste, those of 

 thyme ; while fresh, they are bruised, mixed with castor oil, and 

 applied to the scalp in cases of tinea capitis (Ainslie). 



The whole plant, dried and pulverised, is given in doses of 

 from 4 to 12 drams in fevers and coughs, and is also considered 

 a vermifuge (Drury). 



940. R. parviflora, Nees., h.f.b.l, iv. 550. 



Syn : — Justicia pectinata, Linn. Roxb. 44. 

 Sans. : — Pindi. 



Vern. : — Tavashu miirunghie ; punakapundii (Tarn.); Pindi 

 kunda (Tel.) ; Bir lopong arak (San tab). 

 Habitat : —Throughout India. 



Annual ; erect stems, slender, with opposite lines of pubescent, 

 divaricately branched ; upper leaves 2|-4in., linear, much taper- 

 ing to base, obtuse, slightly undulate, glabrous, lanceolate, petiole 

 obscure, lower leaves oval or rotundate, distinctly petioled. 

 Spikes very short, about fin. flat, ranks of empty bracts in one 

 plane, fin., linear oblong, mucronate, with a very narrow 

 margin, glabrous, slightly cilia te, floral bracts about Jin., oval, 

 obtuse, slightly mucronate, with the scarious margin wider, 

 glabrous, ciliate ; bractlets narrower than the bracts. Sepals 

 linear lanceolate. Corolla Jin., small (Trimen). Flowers white, 

 with blue lines on lower lip. " Capsule ^in., seeds small, 

 minutely verrucose ; spikes nearly all terminal, markedly one- 

 sided " (C. B. Clarke). 



Uses : — The juice of the small and somewhat fleshy leaves 

 is considered cooling and aperient and is prescribed for 

 children suffering from small-pox in dose of a tablespoonful 

 or two twice daily. The bruised leaves are applied to contu- 

 sions to relieve pain and diminish swelling (Ainslie). 



