N. n. SOITAMINE/E. 
1253 
2 sub-orbiant, obovate lobes, about half way down ; anther-crest 
quadrate, shallowly bifid. 
Use : — The people of Bengal use the roots as a medicine for 
their cattle. (Roxburgh.) 
1239. K. rotunda, Linn., ii.f.b.i., vi. 222. Roxb. 6. 
Sans. : — Bhfimichampaka. 
Vern. : — Bliuichampa (H. & B.) ; Bhuichampo (Guz.) ; Ivonda 
Icalava (Tel.) ; Malan-lcua (Mai.). 
Habitat : — Throughout India. 
An annual, rootstock tuberous, outside yellowish-brown, 
inside yellowish-white ; rootlets white, numerous, 2 or 3in. 
long, bearing fascicles of numerous, oblong bulbs, 1 -2in. long 
Bulbs glabrous, mucilaginous inside. Leaves radical, oblong, 
erect, petioled, 1 ft. by 4-Gin., rich, purple beneath, green above. 
Petiole sheathing. Spikes 4-6-fid, produced in March and April 
before the leaves. Flowers erect, scapose, 4-6 to the scape, 
fragrant, large, of various colours, white, pink, yellow and purple, 
harmoniously blended in one and the same flower. Bracts 
oblong, acute, outer short, inner 2-3in. long. Calyx nearly as 
long as the corolla-tube, white,' membranous, somewhat gibbous ; 
apex generally two-toothed and of a dotted purplish colour. 
Corolla tube 2-3in. ; segments spreading, long, linear, nearly 
as long as tube. Staminodes 1 i-2in., oblong, erect, white. 
Lip rather shorter, reflexed, 2-fid, to below the middle lobes 
f-lin. broad, deeply tinged with lilac or red-purple, cut into 
two sub-orbicular lobes. Anther-crest deeply bifid, cut half 
way down into two lanceolate lobes, with often a small tooth 
between. (J. G. Baker.) 
Uses- — According to Sanskrit writers the root, used in 
the form of a poultice, promotes suppuration. (U. C. Dutt.) 
Rheede informs us ( Rort . Mai., II., 18) that the whole 
plant, when reduced to powder and used in the form of an 
ointment, has wonderful efficacy in healing fresh wounds, and 
that, taken internally, it removes any coagulated blood or 
purulent matter that may be within the body ; he adds that 
“the root is a useful medicine in anasarcous swellings.” Dr. 
