1066 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
slender axillary and terminal long slender simple or panicled 
spikes of small clusters. Sepals closing the utricle. Seed 
horizontal, smooth, shining; margin horizontal. Wight remarks 
that the flowers are polygamous at Coimbatore. (J. D. Hooker.) 
Uses : — This is said to afford an essential oil to which the 
tonic and antispasmodic properties of the plant are attributed. 
It is commonly reported that this plant is'used as a substitute 
for the officinal G. Anthelminticum, having in a milder degree 
the anthelmintic properties of that plant. It is employed in 
pectoral complaints and enjoys the European reputation as a 
useful remedy in nervous affections, particularly chorea. Offi- 
cinal preparation an infusion. It is remarkable that the pro- 
perties of this plant should be practically unknown to the people 
of India. (Watt. 11 267.) 
1044. Beta vulgaris, Linn., h.f.b I., v. 5. 
Syn. : — B. benghalensis, Roxb. 260. 
Vern. Bit palang (B.); Lebleboo (Pb.) ; Palak (H.). 
Habitat : — Largely cultivated in Bengal and Upper India. 
A succulent annual or perennial glabrous herb. Stem l-3ft., 
erect, furrowed. Lower or root leaves ovate or oblong-obtuse, 
often trowel-shaped, base cuneate or cordate, decurrent on the 
petiole, margin waved, upper or cauline, short incurved, rhom- 
bic-ovate, oblong-ovate or lanceolate. Flow'ers 2-sexual, sessile, 
solitary or 2-3-adnate, in axillary spiked or cymose clusters. 
Spikes 6-18in., slender; clusters remote. Bracts narrow', acute. 
Perianth urceolate, 5-lobed, covering in fruit by their enlarged 
hardened bases. Sepals oblong-obtuse, with membranous mar- 
gins, thickened at base in fruit. Ovary depressed, sunk in 
the fleshy annular disk. Style short, Stigmas 2-4-subulate. 
Utricle adnate to the disk and base of perianth. Seed hori- 
zontal, testa thin, albumen floury, Embryo annular. 
Use : — The seeds have cooling and diaphoretic properties. 
Bellew says that the fresh leaves are applied to burns and 
bruises. (Watt.. 
The ethereal extract of the dry matter of the common mangel was examined 
and found to contain triglycerides, free fatty acids, and two neutral subs- 
