1032 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



997. M. Bengalensis, Benth. h.f.b.i., iv. 653. 



Syn. : — Salvia bengalensis, Roxb, 49. 



Habitat : — Native of Abyssinia ; cultivated in India. 



Vern : — Kapur-ka-patta (H.) ; Sesti (Bom.); Shima-karpu- 

 ram-aku (Tarn.) 



A large strongly-scented, straggling shrub, finely tomentose 

 or hoary. Branches cylindric. Leaves 2-3 by 1-1 Jin., finely 

 crenulate, obtuse thinner than inM. strobilifera, as finely granu- 

 late obove and reticulate beneath, base rounded or bractate. 

 Petiole slender, i-Jin., spikes terminal with interrupted ebracteate 

 globose whorls. Whorls Jrjin. diam., villous. Calyx Jin. long, 

 pedicelled, teeth acute. Corolla white, lips spreading or recurved. 

 Nutlets obovoid, smooth, brown (J. D. Hooker). 



Uses : — The camphoraceous bitter plant possessing the pro- 

 perties of Sage (Salvia officinalis). Leaves are much used in 

 native practice, an infusion being an useful application to 

 aphthae and sore throats, according to Mr. Rama Churn Bose, 

 who also notices its power to diminish or arrest the secretion of 

 milk (Pharm. Ind.). 



998. Salvia moorcroftiana, Wall., h.f.b.i., iv. 

 654. 



Vern. — Kali-jari ; Shobri ; Gurgumna (Pb.). 



Habitat. — Western Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to 

 Kumaon. 



A very robust tall erect herb, clothed with white, usually 

 woolly or cottony hairs on stem, leaves beneath and often above 

 petiole and branches of panicle ; very rarely glabrous. Stems 

 l£-3ft. Leaves thick, long stalked, ovate or oblong, 5-8 by 2J- 

 6in., sinuately and irregularly lobed, crenate or sharply toothed ; 

 upper surface nearly glabrous or cottony-tomentose, closely 

 wrinkled ; lower white tomentose. Flowers lin. long, pale blue, 

 lilac or nearly white, in many distant whorls ; bracts large, 

 pale, green- veined, orbicular, abruptly pointed. Calyx bristly, 

 bell-shaped ; teeth spinous ; upper-lip 3-toothed. Corolla- tube 

 much longer than the calyx ; upper lip long, curved, flattened, 

 concave (Collett). Nutlets subglobose (J. D. Hooker). 



