1306 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Uses : — “The natives of Bengal esteem it a plant of great 
value, because they think it an easy, speedy and certain cure 
for the troublesome eruption called ringworm. (Hon’ble John 
Hyde, in a letter to Roxburgh.) Agardh notices its use in itch 
and leprosy. (Dymock.) 
Chemical composition— The plaut contains a red colouring matter soluble 
in alcohol and intensified by alkalies and having some reactions peculiar to 
chrysophanic acid. (Pharmacogr. Ind., III., 511.1 
N. 0. COMMELIN ACEiE. 
1291. Commelina obliqua, Ham., H.F.B.I., VI., 
372. 
Syn. : — C. communis, Roxb. 57. 
Sans. : — Kanchata. 
Vern. : — Korna, kanjura, kdna (Hind); Jata-kanchura, jata- 
kansbira (B.). 
Habitat : — Throughout India, from the base of the Himalaya 
to 6,000ft. The Western Ghats, Singapore, Ceylon. 
An annual herb, 2-3ft., stout, branched, glabrous. Branches 
widely creeping below. Lekves very variable, 4-7 by l-'2in., 
sessile or petioled, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, finely acu- 
minate or caudate, membranous, glabrous, scabrous or villous. 
Sheath f-lin. ; mouth oiliate, with long hairs. Spathes sessile 
or very shortly pe luncled, f-Lin. broad and long, solitary 
or crowded, turbinately funnel-shaped, cuspidate, glabrous. 
Raceme usually simple. Flowers bright-blue, fin. across, 
clawed. Petals orbicular, pale-blue, one of them nearly white 
(Collett). Ovary 3-celled. Ovule 1 in each cell. Capsule fin. 
long obovoid or oblong, trigonous, 3-celled, 3-valved, 3-seeded. 
Seeds fin. long, oblong or ellipsoid smooth, puberulous, lead- 
coloured, margins often marbled. (Trimen.) (J. D. Hooker). 
Uses : — The root is useful in vertigo, fevers and bilious 
affections, and as an antidote to snake-bites. (Atkinson.) Ac- 
cording to Loureiro, it is refrigerant and laxative, and to be 
useful in strangury and costiveness. 
