1330 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Vern : — Nattu-ati-vadayam (Tam.) ; Natti-ati-vasa Tel.). 



Habitat : — Bengal, Deccan Peninsula. 



A small grass-like herb growing on the margins of ditches 

 and ponds, submerged during the rainy season only. Root-stock 

 tuberous, soboliferous ; roots vermiform. Leaves 3-8 by |-f in., 

 linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, narrowed from the middle 

 to both ends ; nerves nearly parallel ; petiole short, stout. Spathe 

 subsessile, 3-5in. long ; tube very short, much shorter than 

 the limb, linear-lanceolate, at first twisted, greenish outside, 

 dark-purple and transversely lamellate within. Ovaries 5-6; 

 stigmas broadly elliptic. (Cooke). 



Uses : — The Ati-vadayam of the Tamils is the Atis of Nor- 

 thern Iodia, and is the tuber of Aconitum heterophyllum. The 

 country Atis of the Madras Presidency has for a long time been 

 undetermined, until in 1888 Mr. M. A. Lawson was able to 

 refer it to Cryptocoryne spiralis and a species of Lagenandra. 

 Moodeen Sheriff says the root bears a strong resemblance 

 externally to Ipecacuanha, and he has used it as a tonic and 

 anti-periodic with children. It attracted attention a few years 

 ago through several packages of it appearing in the London 

 market as " False Ipecacuanha." It is a well-known drug in 

 Ceylon, where it is employed by the native doctors in decoctions, 

 in combination with other drugs as a remedy for infantile 

 vomiting and cough, and in the case of adults for abdominal 

 complaints and fever. (Dymock). 



1307. Pistia stratiotes, Linn, h.f.b.l, vi 497 ; 

 Roxb. 502. 



Vern.: — Jal-kumbhi, takapana (H. and B.) ; Banjh&njhe 

 (Uriya) ; Prashni, gondala (Mar.) ; Kodda-pail (Mai.). Anter- 

 ghunga (Dec.) ; Agasatmary (Tam.); Anterei-tamara (Tel.). 



Eng. :— The Wester-lettuce. 



Habitat :— Throughout India, in still sweet water. 



A floating, gregarious, stemless, stoloniferous herb. Roots of 

 tufted simple white fibres clothed with fibrillse. Leaves lj-4in. 

 long in Indian forms, apex rounded or retuse, undulate, pubes- 

 cent above and beneath ; nerves raised beneath, flabelliform, 



