N. 0. COMPOSITE. 
703 
667 . A. Absinthium , Linn, h.f.b.i., hi. 328 . 
Syn. : — Absinthium vulgare, Gcertn. ; A. officinale, Lavi. 
Enrj. names: — The absinthe; Wormwood. 
Vernacular : — Vilayati-afsantin (H. and Duk.) 
Habitat : — Kashmir. 
A perennial, hoary, silky, pubescent, herbaceous plant, very 
aromatic. Stem erect, angular, ribbed, l-3ft. Leaves ovate 
or obovate, l-2in., unequally, 2-3 pinnatifidly, cut into spreading 
linear or lanceolate, obtuse ; segments hoary on both surfaces; 
radical and lower cauline narrowed into winged petioles. Heads 
■§"£in. diam., numerous, but haidly crowded. Flowers yellow, 
pedicelled, hemispheric in drooping, second racemes terminat- 
ing in branches, liay-corol la dilated below. Outer Involucre- 
bracts oblong, hoary, narrowly scarious. Receptacle hairs long, 
straight. Anthers acuminate (not aristate). Achenes elliptic 
oblong, or somewhat obovoid, 2 jin. long. 
Part used : — The whole herb, in the form of decoction, 
infusion and poultice. 
Uses : — The whole herb is an aromatic tonic, and formerly 
enjoyed a high reputation in debility of the digestive organs. 
It was also regarded as an anthelmintic. Before the discovery 
of Cinchona, it was largely used in interrnittents. It exercises 
a powerful influence over the nervous system, and its tendency 
to produce, headache and other nervous disorders is well known 
by travellers in Kashmir and Ladak, who suffer severely when 
marching through the extensive tracts of country covered with 
this plant (Watt’s Dictionary, Vol. 1., p. 324). Prescribed in 
the form of a poultice or formentation as an antiseptic and 
discutient. 
It yields by distillation a dark green or yellow oil, having 
a strong odour of the plant and an acrid taste. In large doses 
it is a violent narcotic poison. 
It contains a compound anabsinthin, C ti jj 24 0 4 , soluble in alcohol, benzene, 
and chloroform, but only slightly soluble in water ; this forms long, white, 
prismatic needles, which, when dried at 120", melt at 258—259° ; from acetone, 
it separates in large and peculiar crystals. With sulphuric acid, it gives a 
