1254 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Dymock writes that in Bombay a powder of the tubers “ is 
used as a popular local application in mumps (OaJgand), but 
as they are generally combined with more active remedies, 
such as Croton seed, Aconite, and Nux-vomica, it is probable 
that they do not contribute much to the cure.” “ The sub- 
stance of the rhizomes and tubers is of a pale straw-colour, has 
a bitter, pungent, camphoraceous taste, much like that of true 
Zedoary ; the whole plant is aromatic.” In the Gazetteer of 
the Rewa-Kanta District, it is stated that the roots are sto- 
machic and are also applied to swellings. Thwaites remarks 
that in Ceylon the root is employed medicinally, but he does 
not state for what purpose. The almost universal belief (from 
one side of India to the other) that the rhizomes are useful in 
reducing swellings, would suggest the desirability of this sub- 
ject being more carefully investigated in the future. (Watt.) 
1240. Hedychium spicatum, Hamilt., h.T.b.i., 
vi. 227. 
Sans. : — Karpurak4chali. 
Vern. Sit-ruti, kaptir kachri (Hind.); Kachur-kachu, ban 
kela, saki, banhaldf, khor, shalwi, sheduri, (Bazdr root) = kapur 
kachri, kachur (Pb.); Kapur kachari* (Mar. and Guz.) ; Shimai- 
kich-chilik kishangu (Tam.). 
Habitat : — Sub-tropical Himalaya ; Nepal ; Kumaon. 
A perennial herb. Rootstock horizontal, tubrous ; root 
fibres not much thickened. Stem elongate, leafy. Leaves 
reaching 1ft. or more, very variable in breadth, glabrous, oblong 
or oblong-lanceolate. Spike sometimes 1ft., dense-fid. Bracts 
oblong, obtuse, green, large, 1-fid, 1-1| by fin. broad. Flowers 
ascending and closely imbricate, white. Calyx shorter than 
the bract. Corolla-tube 2-2|in.; segments lin., linear. Stami- 
node lin., lanceolate ; lip cuneate, deeply bifid, i-fin., broad, 
not at all clawed. Stamen 1, rather shorter than the lip ; 
anther linear, |-jin., 2-celled, connective very narrow, neither 
* It is a mistake to call this plant Kapur Kachri. The real Kachri is 
Ksempferdie galanga. The Marathi name of Hedychium spicatum is Sona- 
takka. (K. R. K.) 
