N. O. PUNTAOINE/E. 
1051 
1026. P. amplexicaulis, Cav., h . f . b . i . iv . 706. 
Vern. : — Gajpipali, isafgol, spigliwal (I’b.). 
Habitat: — Panjab Plains, from the Sutlej westwards. 
Malwa, Sindh on the Boogta Hills. 
An annual or perennial herb, stemless or subcaulescent, 
sparsely hairy a subglab rescent, branched from the base 2-4in. 
high, bearing axillary leaves and scapes. Leaves long, very 
narrowly lanceolate, finely acuminate 3-nerved, base sheathing. 
Scapes very numerous, stout, glabrous, axillary. Spikes ovoid 
1-1 Jin. Flowers largo. Bracts cupular, glabrous, membranous, 
except the green rib. Sepals rounded, outer with a green keel, 
inner all membranous. Corolla-lobes ovate, acute. Seeds Jin., 
boatshaped, brown. Septum J-Jin., oblong thickened, black, 
Uses : — Said to be an astringent, u seful in intermittent fever, 
and as an application to the eyes in ophthalmia ; also used as 
an antidote for sanke-bite ; highly valuable in pulmonary 
affections. (Ainslie.) 
1027. P. ovata, Forsk., h . f . b . i ., iv . 707. 
Syn. : — P. Ispaghula, Roxb. 135. 
Vern. : — Isubgol (H.) ; Isabgul (B.) ; Spungar (Sindg Isapgul 
(M.). Esopgol, uthamu-jirun Guz.; Iskolvirai (Tam.); Isabag&la 
vittulu (Tel.) ; Isabagolu, Visamagolu (Kan.). 
The seeds are not mentioned by tire old Hindu writers, but the Guzerati 
name appears to be of Sanskrit origin. In all the vernaculars, corruptions 
of the Persian name, Ispaghul, are in use. This word is a compound of 
"a horse, ” and “ the ear,'' in allusion to the shape of the seeds (Dymoek.) 
Habitat : — Punjab Plains and low Hills, from the Sutlej 
westwards ; Sindh. 
An annual, stemless or subcaulescent herb, sparsely or thickly 
villous. Stem rarely branched from the base. Leaves all radical. 
3-9in., rarely Jin. diam., usually 3-nerved, entire or distantly 
toothed, narrow-linear - or filiform, finely acuminate. Scapes 
glabrous, pubescent, longer or shorter than the leaves. Spikes 
J-l*, ovoid a cylindric. Bracts with broad scarious margins, 
ovate, oblong, obtuse, glabrous. Corolla glabrous ; lobes rounded, 
concave, obtuse. Sepals sub-similar, glabrous or pubescent. 
Capsule 2-celled , .cell 1-seeded. Seeds cymbiform. 
