848 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Use: — In Hindu medicin&'this plant is regarded as laxative, 
alterative and tonic, and is much praised as a nervine. It is 
also used in insanity, epilepsy, and nervous debility. The 
fresh juice of the plant is given in all cases of insanity, in 
doses of about an ounce (Dutt). 
798 . Qentiana tenella, Fries, h.f.b.i., iv. 109 . 
Vern. : — Tita ( Pb. *. 
Habitat : — Common in Kashmir and W. Himalaya. 
An erect or straggling herb, 4-lineolate, branched. Stem 
2-10in. Leaves oblong or ovate, f by fin., lowest spa- 
thulate. Pedicels (many of them) long, terminal, solitary, 
l-3fin. Calyx-tube hardly any ; lobes | by T ' 0 in., elliptic, 
often unequal. Corolla fimbriate in the throat, tubular, 5-lobed, 
tube f by f-Jim, lobes fin., elliptic, capsule fin., oblong 
linear, sessile. 
Use-. — Aitchison . says that in Lahoul a decoction of the 
leaves and stems of this and other species is given in fevers 
(Watt). 
799 . G. Kurroo , Boyle, h.f.b.i. iv. 117 
Vern.: — Karri, kutki (Beng. and Hind.) ; Nilkant, kauialpbnl, 
miiakil (Pb.). 
Habitat ■ — Common i:i Kashmir and N.-W. Himalaya. 
Roolstook thick. Stems tufted, decumbent, 4-12in. Leave,- 
narrowly oblong. Radical leaves collected into a rosette. 3-5 by 
f-fin. Stem-leaves lin., narrower. Flowers blue, spotted with 
white, lf-2in. long, fin. diam., solitary or racemose. Calyx 
about half as long as the Corolla ; lobes linear. Corolla 5-lobed 
Capsule oblong (Collett), f by fin. Stalk f-fin. Seeds twice 
as long as broad, acute at one end, subcordate at the other 
(C. B. Clarke). 
Uses : — The root is medicinally used as a bitter tonic, and as 
substitute for the true Gentian. On the hills it is viewed as a 
febrifuge. Used principally as a masala for fattening horses 
(Calthrop). Acts as an aperient in larger doses (Gray). Said 
