710 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Carduus benedictus of Europe. t Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. 
II., p. 320). 
678. Carduus nutans, Linn, h.f.b.i., m. 361. 
Vern.: — Kanchhari, tiso, badaward(Pb-) ; Gul-i-badaward 
(Kashmir). 
Habitat : — Western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Simla, and 
Hazara in the Punjab. 
A tall stout thistle, biennial, cobwebby, stem l-3ft., usually 
simple grooved, interruptedly winged ; wings sinuous, spi- 
nulose. Leaves 6-1 2in., variable, entire, 1-2-pinnatifid, waved, 
spinous. Heads f-ljin. diam., solitary cr fascicled, hemis- 
pheric or subcampannlate, inclined or drooping. Involucre- 
bracts subulate- lanceolate, outer or all terminating in a spread- 
ing, erect or, reflexed spine. Flowers crimson. Ache ties pale 
brown, glabrous, granulate. 
Use : — In the Punjab, the flowers are considered febrifugal 
(Stewart). 
It is used in Kashmir to purify the blood(Punjab Products). 
679. Silybum marianuin, Gaertn., h.f.b.i., III. 
364. 
Habitat : — Punjab and N.-W. Himalaya, Peshawar, Hazard, 
and from Kashmir to Jammu. 
An annual or biennial shining thistle. Stem 1-4 ft., grooved, 
not winged. Leaves larger, with strong spines. Heads l-2in. 
diam., base intruded. Involucre-bracts coriaceous, with a spine 
|-fin. long, outermost mucronate. Receptacle fleshy ; flowers 
rose-purple. Aehenes Jin., transversely wrinkled, black or 
grey. Pappus white. 
Uses: — Mr. George Foy (Medical Press for 1887, p. 492) calls 
attention to its properties. He statjes that this plant is now 
being received with professional favour in France, where the 
tincture and alcoholic extract are both being prepared. He 
remarks that the extract is a useful adjunct to aloes, since it 
possesses cholagogue properties (Ph. J. June 25, 1887, p. 1051). 
