390 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.
Uses : — It is considered to be antiseptic by the Hindus, and its juice is rubbed over the body in pestilent fevers. Rheede no- tices its use for this purpose, and also internally in dysentery com- bined with ginger, cumin, and other aromatics. He also states that a liniment is made from the plant with cocoanut oil which is used in elephantiasis. Roxburgh, under the name of Calum- nea balsamea, describes the plant and notices its grateful odour and aromatic taste. The Bengal name signifies " Camphor." The odour of the fresh plant is remarkably refeshing and agree- able and^calis to mind that of camphor and oil of lemons. (Phar- macographia Indica, HI — 7).
889. Herpestis Monniera, E. B. and K. h.f.b.i.,
iv. 272,
Syn. : — Gratiola Monniera, Li?in. Roxb. 47.
Vern. : — Brahmi, jal-nim, shwet chamni (Hind.) ; Adhabirni (Beng.); Urishnaparni (Uriya) ; Bama, Nirbrahmi (Bom.); Beami nirpirimie (Tarn.) ; Sembranichitiu (Tel.).
Habitat :— Common in marshes throughout India, from the Punjab to Ceylon.
Marshy glabrous, often punctate herbs ; creeping, rather succulent ; branches 4-10in. long, rooting at the joints. Leaves i-f-in, opposite, fleshy, sessile, obtuse, entire in the Indian plant, ovate-oblong or spathulate ; nerves very obscure ; lower surface dotted. Peduncles usually longer than the leaves, and-2 bracteoled. Flowers pale blue, purple-veined, single on alternate, axillary stalks. Calyx -g-§-in. long, 5-parted, upper sepal ovate, Corolla cylindric, twice as long ; lobes and stamens subequal, anthers sagittate or didynamous ; style linear ; stigma capitate, 2-lobed capsule included, ovoid, acute. Seeds pale, irre- gular, numerous.
Parts used : — The root, stalks and leaves.
Uses :— It is considered by the Hindu physicians a nervine tonic, useful in insanity, epilepsy and hoarseness (Dutt).
It is regarded by the Hindus as a powerful diuretic and apperient (Ainslie, Mat. Ind., vol. ii, p. 239), but there is no trustworthy evidence of its value in these respects. According
