A pubescent, perennial herb. Rootstock horizontal, thick, with thick descending fibres. Radical leaves several, l-3in. diam., deeply cordate or cordate-ovate, usually acute and toothed, long-petioled. Cauline leaves few or much smaller, entire or pinnate. Corymb l-3in. diam., not very lax even in fruit. Bracteoles oblong-linear, as long as the fruits. Fruit hairy or nearly glabrous.
Use :--The roots are exported to the plains, and are used medicinally, like V. Hardwickii (Stewart).
622. V. Hardwickii, Wall, h.f.b.i., iii. 213.
Vern.: — Tágger (H. and B.) ; Tagger-ganthoda (Bomb.); Chammaha (Nepal) ; Naháni, chár, bála, taggar (Pb.) ; Shumeo, asárun (Kumaon) ; Char (C. P.).
Habitat : — Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Bhotan, and Khasia Mountains.
A perennial herb, pubescent below. Rootstock hardly thickened, descending, fibrous. Stem l-5ft., erect, usually simple or corymbose only upwards, above often glabrous, nodes little pilose. Leaves pinnate, pinnules 1-5 or lanceolate, acute. Radical leaves undivided, usually disappearing before fruit-time ; long-petioled, ovate acute. Cauline leaves several, leaflets often 3, rarely more than 5, upper smaller. Corymb in fruit lax, often 1ft., repeatedly dichotomous, ultimate branchlets very small ; upper bracteoles much shorter than the fruit. Fruit hairy.
Use :— The medicinal properties attributed to it by the author of the Makhzan resemble those of N. Jatâmânsi. Royle says that the drug is used medicinally in Nepal and Northern India. There can be little doubt that it would prove an efficient substitute for valerian (Dymock).
623. V. Leschenaultii, DC. Var. Brunoniana, w. & a. h.f.b.i., iii 214.
Habitat : — Neilgherry Mts., frequent.
A perennial herb, glabrous, or very slightly puberulous. Root- stock short, enveloped by thick fibres. Stem erect, with 1-2 pair of leaves near the root, and another small pair about the
