172 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
tonic properties, and has been found very useful in febrile 
affections and some forms of dyspepsia, and also in mild cases 
of debility from previous illness. (Moodeen Sheriff.) 
151. S. rhombifolia, Linn., h.f.b.i., i. 323. 
Roxb. 517. 
Sans.: — Atibala (Sanskrit) Mahabala, Pitapusbpa. 
Vern .: — Lal-bariala or berela (Ben. and Hind.) ; (Sinha- 
lese) Ivotikan-bevila ; (Tamil) Chittamaddi ; (Porebunder and 
Gujrat) Khetara ubal dana ; (Marathi) Chikna, Sadeva ; (Hindi) 
Sahadeva, Pitabala ; Sahadeva. J.— Indraji. 
N. B. Sahadevi (Sanskrit) is the name of Vernonia cineria. 
(K. R. K). 
Habitat : —Throughout India. 
A shrubby, erect herb ; perennial, very variable, glabrous, 
or with scattered stellate hairs. Leaves polymorphous, gene- 
rally more or less rhomboid, underside hoary, rarely green ; 
tapering at the base. Stipules linear-setacous, longer than the 
petiole. Peduncle longer than the petiole ; rarely less than 
twice as long as the petiole, axillary, or clustered at th'e ends of 
the branches. Flowers mostly yellow ; rarely white. Sepals 
deltoid, acuminate. Carpels smooth or reticulate, 10, awned or 
not, as long as the Calyx (Maxwell T. Masters). This species 
and its allies yield good fibre. Widely distributed through- 
out India and Tropics in both Hemispheres. 
Use : — The medicinal properties of this species resemble 
those of other species. 
152. S. rhombifoila, Var. retusa, Linn, h.f.b.i., 
i. 324., Roxb. 517. 
Vern.: — Jangli-m4thi (H. and Dec.); Ban-methi (Beng.) ; 
Mayir-mannikkam (Tel.) Arb : — Hulbahe-bari. Pers : — Sham- 
blide-bari. 
Stems prostrate, thick and woody, much-branched. Leaves 
very small, cuneate-obovate, retuse. apiculate ; ripe carpel, 
