1132 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



angles ; spines in pair at the nodes. Leaves few or wanting. 

 Involucres ^in. diam., yellow or green-yellow, hemispheric, in 

 compact sessile, 3-fid cymes, from the sinus between, the 

 nodes ; styles free nearly to the base. Cocci compressed, glabrous. 

 Capsule fin. diam. 



Use : — The acrid, milky juice possesses cathartic and anthel- 

 mintic properties (Watt). 



1121. E. Thompsoniana, Boiss., h.f.b.l, v., 260. 



Vern : — Hirtiz (Kashmir). 



Habitat : — Western Tibet, Leh and Gil git. 



Perennial herb, quite glabrous. Stems a foot high, simple, 

 sparingly leafy, from a stout perennial stock, unbranched, scaly 

 at the base. Leaves i-fin., or even f-1 Jin. broad, coriaceous, dull 

 yellow when dry, upper and under surface alike ; sessile ellip- 

 tic or ovate-obtuse or sub-acute ; nerves few, obscure, ascending, 

 floral, broader, involucral, 2 sub-orbicular. Rays 3-6, longer than 

 the floral leaves. Involucres campanulate, glabrous, without, with 

 4 hairy lines within ; ^in. broad ; lobes small, fimbriate ; styles 

 long, slender ; glands sub-stipitate, transversely oblong. Capsule 

 shortly stipitate, fin. long, |in. diam. ; cocci not separate by a 

 deep sulcus, oblong. Seeds smooth, pale, oblong, |in. long ; 

 caruncle small, peltate. A very distinct species. 



Uses : — The crushed root-stocks are employed by the natives 

 of Kuram as detergents for washing the hair, and, when boiled, 

 are given as purgatives (Aitchison). 



In Kashmir, the root-stock is employed to adulterate " hut " 

 (Saussurea Lappa) and is called by the Kashmiris " Hirtiz." 

 The stem, root and leaves are said to be used medicinally. 

 (Aitchison). 



1122. E. helioscopia, Linn., h.f.b.l, v. 262. 



Verm. :— Hirruseeah ; Mahabi (H.) ; Gandabuti, dudai, kulfa- 

 dodak, chatriwal (Pb.). 



Habitat : — Throughout the Punjab plains and the Siwalik 

 tract, ascending to 7,000 feet in the outer Himalaya. Intro- 

 duced into the Nilghiri hills, 



