1026 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



chutney prepared from the fresh herb is in use all over Bengal. 

 (Dr. Kanai Lai De). 



987. Lyeopus europceus, Linn, h.f.b.i. iv. 648. 



Vern. : — Gandamgiindu ; Jalnim (Kashmir). 



Eng. : — Gipsy wort. 



Habitat : — Western Himalaya and Kashmir. 



Perennial marsh herbs, glabrous or puberulous. Rootstock 

 creeping or stoloniform. Stem l-3ft. Leaves subsessile, elliptic- 

 oblong, sometimes pinnatifid, sinnate-toothed or serrate. Corul- 

 la bluish white, dotted with purple, hairy within. Staminodes 

 minute. Nutlets longer than the Calyx-tube. 



Use : — Used in the Punjab as a cooling drug (Stewart). The 

 leaves are used externally as a poultice to cleanse foul wounds. 



988. Origanum marjorana, Linn., h.f.b.i. iv. 

 648. 



Vern. :— Murwo (Sind) ; Murwa (H.) ; Maroo (Tarn.) ; Ban- 

 tulsi (Kumaon). 



Eng. : — Sweet Marjoram. 



Habitat : — Extensively cultivated in India. 



An aromatic herb, l-2f t. Leaves purplish and white, petioled, 

 ovate-oblong, glaucous. 



Uses :— The seeds are officinal, and are considered astringent 

 and a remedy for colic. The leaves are eaten along with Gynan- 

 dropsis pentaphylla, D. C, as a remedy for colic. An essen- 

 tial oil is also distilled from them, used as a perfurme and for 

 hot fomentations in acute diarrhoea. Aromatic, carminative, 

 and stimulant (Watt). 



Chemical composition. — The volatile oil (Oleam marjorance) is thin, yellowish, 

 of the specific gravity 0*89, boils above 163° C, is readily soluble in alcohol, 

 has the aromatic odour of the herb, and, according to Beilstein and E. 

 Wiegand (1882), contains a terpene, boiling at 178° C. and forming a liquid 

 compound with HCI ; the fraction boiling between 200° and 220° C. has the 

 composition C 5, H 52 0, and is not affected by metallic sodium iStille and Maisch.) 



989. 0. vulgare, Linn., h.f.b.i. iv. 648. 



Vern. : — Mirzanjosh (Pb. and Hind.) ; Mizangosh (Pers.); 

 Sathra (H.); Mridu-maru-vamu (Tel.) 



