N. O. LABIAT.E. 



1027 



Habitat :•-* Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Sikkim. 



An aromatic erect herb, corymbosely branched, l-3ft., more 

 or less clothed with short hairs, glabrous, at times prostrate. 

 Rootstock short, stoloniferous. Leaves entire or toothed, J-lin. 

 long, lower early withering, stalked, fin. broad. Flowers dimor- 

 phic small, pink (Female paler), crowded in numerous 4-sided 

 spikes, J-lin. long, in clusters or heads at the end of branches 

 sometimes forming terminal panicles ; floral leaves bract-like 

 lanceolate longer than the calyx, overlapping, often tinged with 

 purple. Calyx bell-shaped enlarged in fruit ; 5-toothed, mouth 

 hairy within, calyx-teeth short ; Corolla-tube longer than the 

 calyx ; limb 2-lipped, upper lip erect, nearly flat, notched, 

 lower, spreading 3-lobed. Stamens 4 in unequal pair, slightly 

 protruding. Nutlets smooth dry. 



Uses : — It yields a volatile oil, useful as an aromatic, stimu- 

 lant and tonic in colic, diarrhoea and hysteria. It is also 

 applied in chronic rheumatism and tooth-ache. It is said 

 to stimulate the growth of hair, and also to act as an emmena- 

 gogue (Stewart). 



Considered a good " pick-me-up " after a carousal. The 

 oil is dropped into the ear for earache (Dr. Emersoi). 



The infusion is gently tonic, also carminative, stimulant, 

 emmenagogue and diaphoretic. It is also used as a fomenta- 

 tion externally (Brunton). 



The Greeks used it extensively, both internally and for making fomenta- 

 tions. It was esteemed as a remedy for narcotic poisons, convulsions and 

 dropsy, by them, and also by the older herbalists of Europe.— The oil is still 

 an ingredient in some embrocations in use in England, and has a special repu- 

 tation for toothache (Sowerby's English Botany.). 



A sample from Ramnagar, United Provinces, yielded to ether 27-3 per cent, 

 of a light-coloured drying oil. The oil had an acid value of 11*3, saponifica- 

 tion value 194*9, iodine value 190*5 (Hooper). 



990. Thymus Serpyllum, Linn, h.f.b.i, iv. 649, 



Vern. : — Masho, rangsbiir, marizha (Pb.) ; Ban-ajwain (H.) 



Habitat :— Western Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir 

 to Kumaon. 



