1274 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



A perennial herb, with a root-stock in the form of a sheathed 

 corm. Stem 0. Sheaths of corms closely reticulate, Corms 

 large, globular, depressed. Leaves radical, long, slender, grass- 

 like channeled above, white beneath, the edges turned back, 

 fringed, and the lower portion of the leaf-bundle surrounded by 

 sheaths of thin, translucent, whitish tissue. Flowers fragrant, 

 solitary, or in bundles, enclosed in a 2-valved spathe, embracing 

 the scape. Flowers violet, marked with lighter, autumnal, 

 appearing with the leaves. Perianth large, tube very long, 

 slender, funnel-shaped ; limb sub-equally 6-lobed, in 2 series ; 

 the six segments equal in form and almost in size, but the inner 

 ones are invariably somewhat shorter than the outer, concave, 

 narrow, oblong. Throat of tube bearded. Stamens attached to 

 the base of outer segments, the filaments free ; anthers yellow. 

 Ovary hidden between the bases of the leaves, under ground, 

 egg-shaped ; style thread-like, branching into 3 style-arms, i.e., 

 stigmas exserted, orange-red, sub-clavate ; tips entire or lobulate. 

 (These stigmas constitute the saffron of commerce). Capsule 

 spindle-shaped ; seeds roundish (Step and Watson's Favourite 

 Flowers of Gardens and Green-house, Vol. IV, page 553, London 

 1897). 



Uses:— As a medicine, it is used in fevers, melancholia, and 

 enlargement of the liver. It has also stimulant and stomachic 

 properties, is highly thought of as a remedy for catarrhal 

 affections of children, and is used in certain Indian dishes to 

 give them a color. Mullahs (priests) make a kind of ink with 

 this substance with which they write charms. (Dr. Emerson). 

 Formerly regarded as anti-spasmodic and emmenagogue ; em- 

 ployed at present chiefly as a coloring and flavouring agent. 

 (Ph. Ind.). 



1259. Belamcanda ehinensis, Leman., h.f.b.i., 

 vi., 277. 



Syn. : — Pardantbus chinensis, Ker. 



Habitat : — Very doubtfully wild in the Himalaya ; cultivated 

 all over India ; a native of China. 



Root-stock creeping, stem erect ; leafy. Leaves ensiform ; 



