N. 0. SOITAMINE^E. 1253 



2 sub-orbiant, obovate lobes, about half way down ; anther-crest 

 quadrate, shallowly bifid. 



Use : — The people of Bengal use the roots as a medicine for 

 their cattle. (Roxburgh.) 



1239. K. rotunda, Linn., h.f.b.l, vi. 222. Roxb. 6. 



Sans. : — Bhumichampaka. 



Vern. : — Bhuichampa (H. & B.) ; Bhuichampo (Guz.) ; Konda 

 kalava (Tel.) ; Malan-kua (Mai.). 



Habitat : — Throughout India. 



An annual, rootstock tuberous, outside yellowish-brown, 

 inside yellowish-white ; rootlets white, numerous, 2 or 3in. 

 long, bearing fascicles of numerous, oblong bulbs, l-2in. long. 

 Bulbs glabrous, mucilaginous inside. Leaves radical, oblong, 

 erect, petiolecl, 1ft. by 4-6in., rich, purple beneath, green above. 

 Petiole sheathing. Spikes 4-6-fid, produced in March and April 

 before the leaves. Flowers erect, scapose, 4-6 to the scape, 

 fragrant, large, of various colours, white, pink, yellow and purple, 

 harmoniously blended in one and the same flower. Bracts 

 oblong, acute, outer short, inner 2-3in. long. Calyx nearly as 

 long as the corolla-tube, white, membranous, somewhat gibbous ; 

 apex generally two-toothed and of a dotted purplish colour. 

 Corolla tube 2-3in. ; segments spreading, long, linear, nearly 

 as long as tube. Staminodes l|-2in., oblong, erect, white. 

 Lip rather shorter, reflexed, 2-fid, to below the middle lobes 

 |-1 in. broad, deeply tinged with lilac or red-purple, cut into 

 two sub-orbicular lobes. Anther-crest deeply bifid, cut half 

 way down into two lanceolate lobes, with often a small tooth 

 between. (J. G. Baker.) 



Uses'- — According to Sanskrit writers the root, used in 

 the form of a poultice, promotes suppuration. (U. C. Dutt.) 

 Rheede informs us {Rort. Mai., IT., 18) that the whole 

 plant, when reduced to powder and used in the form of an 

 ointment, has wonderful efficacy in healing fresh wounds, and 

 that, taken internally, it removes any coagulated blood or 

 purulent matter that may be within the body ; he adds that 

 " the root is a useful medicine in anasarcous swellings." Dr. 



