736 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
N. 0. PLUMBAGINEJE 
712. Plumbago zeylaniea, Linn., H.F.B.I., ill. 
480 ; Roxb. 155. 
Sans. : — Agni-shikha, Cliitraka. (Also Vahni , and all the 
other names of tire. Roxburgh). 
Vern. : — Chitra, chita, chitarak (Hind.); Chftu (Beng.) ; 
Shitaraj (Arab.) ; Shitaruk (Pers.) ; Chatrmfil, Chitrakniul, (Dec.) ; 
Venchittira (Tam.'' ; Tella-chitra (Tel.); Kotuveli (Mal.j; Sudu- 
nitul (Cingh.) ; Kn-khen-plnu (Burm.); Chitrak (Bom ). 
Habitat : — Cultivated, and wild throughout India. Common 
in Bengal, South India, and Kumaun hills. 
An evergreen perennial herb, or undershrub, diffuse, ram- 
bling. Stems several, 2-5ft., cylindric, glabrous striate. Root 
long, succulent, often much contorted, substantial, diffuse, strait- 
ed longitudinally, 4-5ft. long, procumbent branches, on reach- 
ing the soil, often strike root. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, 
entire sessile, l|-3|in. Jong, lin. broad, ovate. Petiole fin., base 
dilated, amplexicaul. Spikes 4-12in., often branched ; rachis of 
the spike pubescent or glandular. Flowers white, scentless, re- 
gular, bisexual, in long spike-like racemes, the rachis glandular, 
striate. Bracts and bracteoles persistent, leafy, shorter than 
the Calyx. Calyx inferior, free, i-?in. by io' n -> persistent, 
narrowly tubular or spindle-shaped ; 5-10 ribbed, often hyaline 
between the ribs, mouth frequently funnel-shaped, scarious ; seg- 
ments five, with membranous margins, covered with short, large, 
stalked, spreading, globose, crimson glands ; teeth very short. 
Corolla inferior, persistent, tubular ; tube lin., slender ; lobes 
5, spreading, nearly J-in. long, oval ovate or ovoid, acute. Stamens 
5, free, hypogynous, opposite the petals ; filaments free, as long 
as the Corolla-tube, linear, dilated at base ; anthers protruded, 
2-ceiled. Ovary superior, 1-celled, 5-angular, narrowed at apex. 
Style simple filiform, divided into 5 stigmatose branches, nearly 
throughout the length. Stigmas 5, capillary and quite distinct. 
Ovule solitary. Capsule membranous, oblong, sharply pointed, 
included within the persistent Calyx and Corolla ; pericarp 
thickened above. Dehiscence circumciss near the base. Seed 
cylindrical or oblong rotund. 
