668 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
middle, slightly hirsute on the knots. Leaves opposite, stipu- 
late, somewhat fleshy, lower ones quite entire, ovate bluntly 
acuminated, long-petioled, radical ones often emarginate at the 
base ; uppermost or small pair somewhat sessile, narrow oblong, 
entire or toothed along the margin. Corymb terminal, trichoto- 
mous, panicled, with a pair of foliaceous bracts, similar to the 
uppermost leaves subtending the principal branches. C. B. 
Clarke describes this plant in Hooker’s F. B. I., Vol 111, p. 214, 
as a variety of V. Leschenaultii, D.C., and says that the cau- 
line leaves are small, undivided or hardly any, fruit glabrous. 
Clarke further observes thus : — The scapose form has some- 
times hairy fruits and Wight has been unable in his own herba- 
rium to settle what he would call V. Leschenaultii and what V. 
Brunoniana. 
Use : — It affords a root which develops a strong odour of valeric 
acid when dry, and yields to distillation with water a consider- 
able amount of volatile oil. Dr. G. Bidie has recommended it as 
a good substitute for European Valerian (Pharmacographia 
Indica II p. 240.) 
N. 0. DTPSA.CEiE. 
624. Morina persica, Linn, h.f.b.i., iii. 216. 
Vern . : — Bekh ahmar (H.) 
Habitat : — Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon. 
Glabrous or softly pubescent herbs. Stems tall, l^-4ft. 
Leaves 6 by lin., sessile, up to 9in., doubtly spinous-toothed 
hard, pubescent or glabrous. Flowers in axillary clusters ; 
white or faintly tinged with pink. Spikes elongate. Bracts 
free or nearly so, and involucels hairy or villous. Calyx-lobes 
subequal, obovate, oblong, entire or emarginate. |-|in., by l-^-in. 
Corolla-tube 1-l^in. Stamens 2 perfect, 2 rudimentary. Fila- 
ments longer that the Corolla-lobes. Stigma broad, disk-like. 
Achenes free within the involucel. In Kerner’s Natural History 
of Plants 11,352. Oliver’s English Translation, 1895, London, the 
flower of Morina persica is cited as instance of Autogamy “ by 
