1030 INDUN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Collett : — 'Many flowered, crowded, compact, surrounded by 

 an involucre of numerous long bracts.' Bracts filiform or linear, 

 hairy, equalling the Calyx. Calyx |in. long, hispid, usually 

 curved. Corolla i-lin. Stamens in unequal pair. 



Use : — The authors of the Pharmacograiihia Indica write : — 

 " The plant from which the seeds of Faranjmishk or Biranjmishk, 

 Arabic forms of the Persian name Palangmislih, are said to be 

 obtained, is described by Persian Medical writers as having 

 a clove-like odour, on which account it is often called Karanfal- 

 i-bustani, garden clove. According to Abu Hanfeh, it is the 

 same as the plant called by the Arabs Asaba-el-fatiydt. It is con- 

 sidered to be cephalic, astringent, cardiacal, tonic and carmina- 

 tive." 



994. Mel'ssa parviflora, Benth., h.f.b.i. iv. 651. 



Vern. :--Badrunj boya (Pers.). 



Habitat : — Temperate Himalaya, from Garhwal to Sikkim 

 and Mishmi. Khasia Mts. 



A pubescent or glabrate herb. Stem tall erect, angles 

 hirsute. Leaves l-4in., ovate or ovate-lanceolate acute, base 

 acute, rotunded or cordate ; petiole i-lin , slender. Whorls numer- 

 ous few-or many- fid ; flowers pedicelled. Calyx J-Jin. Calyx- 

 teeth very variable in length of the acute points ; bracts 

 narrow. Corolla white ; tube very short, scarcely exceeding the 

 Calyx. 



Hooker writes : — " Very near M. officinalis, which has its 

 Eastern limit in Eastern Persia, but the leaves are more acute 

 and the lower calyx teeth are broader and shorter, but these are 

 variable characters in the European plant." 



Uses : — Mr. Honnigberger speaks of M. officinalis, Linn., 

 being used in the Punjab as stomachic, also in liver and heart 

 diseases, and weakness of sight, etc. 



Of the M. officinalis, " the leaves drunk with wine or applied 

 outwardly are good against the stingings of venomous beasts 

 and the bitings of mad dogs; also it helpeth the toothache, 

 the mouth being washed with a decoction, and is likewise good 



