X. 0. VERBENAOEiE. 1)05 



Vern. : — Bhuijam (B.) ; Kada met (Santal.) ; Nala.niredu 

 (Tel.). Gantu Bharangi (Madras}. 



A small inconspicuous undershrub, produced unusually from 

 woody rootstocks after the jungle fires. Stem hardly any. 

 Leaves simple sessile, 4 by 2-3in., cuneate or obovate, serrate 

 pubescent, mature pubescent on the nerves which are in 5 pair. 

 Corymbs ljin. diam., pubescent, somewhat dense; peduncles 

 O-lJin. Flowers greenish white, 4-lobed. Calyx j^in closely 

 pubescent, lobes ovate obtuse, sub-segmently 5- toothed. Corolla 

 g-in., hairy in the throat, 4-lobed, obscurely two-lipped. Drupe 

 j'm. diam., globose, black when ripe, witli one pyrene. Iioots 

 about as thick as a crowquill with numerous almost globular 

 woody knots. " A good example of a plant belonging to a genus 

 mostly represented by trees or shrubs, and which has become 

 permanently dwarfed by continuous exposure to periodical fires" 

 (Duthie). 



Use : — A preparation of the root is given internally for 



rheumatism by the Santals (Revd. A Campbell . 



This plant is frequently confounded with Clerodendron serratura, Spreng., 

 the roots and stems of which are sold under the name of Bharangi. In Sans- 

 krit, Bharangi bears the names of Bhargi, Brahmayashtika, Hangika, Bringa-ja 

 and Vardhaka, and is described in the Nighantas as hob, bitter, pungent, and 

 digestive; a remover of dropsy, cough, phlegm, asthma, fever, and reheuma- 

 tism. The juice of the root is given with the juice of ginger and warm water 

 in asthma, and it enters into the composition of several compound decoctions 

 for diseases of the lungs. A confection called Bhargi-guda is prepared with 

 a decoction of the root, and the ten drugs called Dasaraula, chebulic mvroba- 

 lans, treacle, and aromatics. An oit prepared with the root is recommended 

 for external application in the marasmus of children (Chakradatta). 



The properties of P. herbacea agree much more nearly with those attri- 

 buted to Bharangi in the Nighantas, than do those of Clerodendron serratum, 

 although the latter plant is at the present time in use as Bharangi through- 

 out the greater part of India, Dutt attributes the drug to C. Siphonanthus, 

 but the samples we obtained from Bengal consisted of the stems of C serratum. 

 Bombay was formerly supplied from the Circars with P. herbacea, but now 

 uses C. serratum. 



Chemical composition.— The constituents of this root resemble to a great 

 extent those fouud in P. integrifolia. An orange-brown acid resin soluble in 

 ether, alcohol and alkaline solutions, and traces of an alkaloid are the most 

 important. There is a quantity of starch in the root, and an entire absence 

 of astrigency (Pharmacographia Tndica II, pp. 68-70), 



