1330 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Vern: — Nattu-ati-vadayam (Tam.) ; Natti-ati-vasa Tel.). 
Habitat : — Bengal, Deccan Peninsula. 
A small grass-like herb growing on the margins of ditches 
and ponds, submerged during the rainy season only. Root-stock 
tuberous, soboliferous ; roots vermiform. Leaves 3-8 by ■§-§ in., 
linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, narrowed from the middle 
to both ends ; nerves nearly parallel ; petiole short, stout. Spathe 
subsessile, 3-5in. long ; tube very short, much shorter than 
the limb, linear-lanceolate, at first twisted, greenish outside, 
dark-purple and transversely lamellate within. Ovaries 5-6 ; 
stigmas broadly elliptic. (Cooke). 
Uses : — The Ati-vadayam of the Tamils is the Atis of Nor- 
thern India, and is the tuber of Aconitum^heterophyllura. The 
country Atis of the Madras Presidency has for a long time been 
undetermined, until in 1888 Mr. M. A. Lawson was able to 
refer it to Cryptocoryne spiralis and a species of Lagenandra. 
Moodeen Sheriff says the root bears a strong resemblance 
externally to Ipecacuanha, and he has used it as a tonic and 
anti-periodic with children. It attracted attention a few years 
ago through several packages of it appearing in the London 
market as “ False Ipecacuanha.” It is a well-known drug in 
Ceylon, where it is employed by the native doctors in decoctions, 
in combination with other drugs as a remedy for infantile 
vomiting and cough, and in the case of adults for abdominal 
complaints and fever. (Dymock). 
1307. Pistia stratiotes, Linn, h.f.b.i., vi 497 ; 
Roxb. 502. 
Vern.: — Jal-kumbhi, takapanft (H, and B.) ; Banjhdnjbe 
(Uriyaj ; Prashni, gondala (Mar.); Kodda-pail (Mai.). Anter- 
ghunga ( Dec.) ; Agasatmary (Tam.) ; Anferei-tamara (Tel.). 
Eng. The Wester-lettuce. 
Habitat ' Throughout India, in still sweet water. 
A floating, gregarious, stemless, stoloniferous herb. Roots of 
tufted simple white fibres clothed with fibrillse. Leaves lj-4in. 
long in Indian forms, apex rounded or refuse, undulate, pubes- 
cent above and beneath ; nerves raised beneath, flabelliform, 
