Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/103

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N. O. GENTIANACEÆ
853


cent, of ash ; the stem 37, salts of potassium and calcium prevailing in both, (Pharmacographia, 2nd Ed., p. 487).

804. S. angustifolia, Ham. h.f.b.l, iv. 125.

Vern. : — Pahâri Chirâyatah (H.) ; Pahádi Kiraitâ (Mar.).

Habitat : — Subtropical Himalaya, from Chenab to Bhotan, common.

Stems l-3ft., 4-winged. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, sub-l- nerved, narrowed at the base, sepals oblong-linear, equalling the Corolla, in Wallich's type, often ½-⅔in., and greatly exceeding the Corolla. Corolla-lobes ½-⅔., usually white, with blue or black dots never lurid ; with one large orbicular gland near the base, " the large depression usually minutely pubes- cent on the margin, and partly closed by a scale" (C. B. Clarke). Stamens linear ; anthers oblong, scarcely hastate, Capsule ⅓ by 1/5in., ovate. Seeds 1/40in., polyhedral ; testa somewhat loose, glistening along the edges.

Uses:— In the United Provinces 0. angustifolia, D. Don, a common Himalayan species, is much used instead of 0. Chirata, and is called Pahari or Hill Chiretta, while the officinal plant, imported from the plains, is called Dakhani or Southern Chiretta (Royle).

805. S. affinis, Clarke. h.f.b.l, iv. 126.

Habitat :— Deccan Peninsula, from Chota Nagpore to the Pulneys.

Stems annual, erect, panicled, solid, virgate ; l-3ft. Leaves 1¾ by ⅓in., lanceolate, 3-nerved, base nanow. Cymes forming an elongate lax panicle. Panicle-branches sharply quadrangular ; pedicels O-lin., flowers 4-merous, not clustered. Sepals 1/5in., narrowly lanceolate. Corolla-lobes ¼ by ⅛in. long, oblong, shortly acute or subobtuse, white or with blue nerves, orbicular gland near the base large, completely covered by the large scale with pubescent margin. Filaments linear, not or scarcely dilated, free or nearly so ; anthers oblong, not or obscurely cordate, Style short, cylindric ; stigmas oblong. Capsule