1024 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



983. Mentha viridis, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 647. 



Vem. : — Pudina (B., Mar., Guz., Tel. and Sind.); Pudina, 

 pudina kuhi, pahari pudina (Pb.) ; Pahari pudina (Hind.) ; 

 Nagbo, shah-suflam (Pers.) 



Habitat : — Cultivated in Indian gardens. 



A perennial herb, with a pungent smell, glabrous or nearly 

 so. Leaves all sessile, or the lower only petioled, oblong-lanceo- 

 late, subacute, sessile, smooth above. Spikes slender. Whorls 

 in terminal spikes ; bracts minute. Throat of Calyx glabrous. 

 Corolla glabrous without and within. Probably a cultivated 

 form of M. sylvestris (J. D. Hooker). 



Uses: — The medicinal properties and uses of the oil obtained 

 by distillation from the fresh herb, are similar to those of 

 Peppermint, but it is only less powerful in its action. The 

 seeds are mucilaginous. Leaves given in fever and bronchitis. 

 Decoction used as lotion for aphthas (Dr. Emerson). 



984. M. piperita, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 647. 



Habitat : — Cultivated in Indian gardens. 



A perennial glabrous strong-scented herb. Leaves petioled 

 l-4in., acute or obtuse at base, coarsely serrate, smooth above, 

 rarely sparingly, hairy on the nerves below, ovate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, upper smaller, sometimes bracteiform. Whorls in 

 terminal spikes. Spikes cylindric, interrupted below. Bracts 

 minute. Pedicels and flowers glabrous, or very sparingly hispid. 

 Calyx often red. Probably a garden form M. Aquatica, as 

 suggested by Bentham (J. D. Hooker). 



Use : — Officinal in the British and Indian Pharmacopoeias. 



985. M. sylvestris, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 647. 



Vem. :— Pudina (H., B., M., G. Tarn.); Chetni-Maragi (Kan.). 



Habitat : — Temperate Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to 

 Garhwal. 



A strongly scented erect or diffuse herb. Rootstock creep- 

 ing ; stems l-3ft., hoary-pubescent. Leaves nearly sessile, 

 lanceolate, ovate or oblong, l-3in., sharply toothed, acute ; upper 

 surface hoary pubescent, lower white tomentose- Flowers small, 

 lilac in large whorls crowded in axillary and terminal cylindric 



