N. 0. POLYGALACEÆ
112. Polygala crotalarioides, Ham. H.F.B.I., i. 201.
Vern.: — Lil Kathi (Santali).
Habitat: — Common in Simla, in rock-crevices. Temperate Himalaya, from Chamba Hill to Sikkim, Khasia Mts.
A perennial, densely hairy herb. Rootstock woody, often tuberous. Stems thick, short, decumbent. Branches long, spreading. Leaves nearly sessile, ovate or oblong-ovate, ½-2 in. Bracts sessile. Flowers purple, crowded in axillary racemes. Calyx persistent. Keel-petal crested. Capsule heart-shaped, fringed. Seeds hairy. Strophiole, with 2 small ovate appendages.
Parts used : — The entire plant and the root.
Use :— Used medicinally by the natives in catarrhal affections; deserving of further attention. (Ph. Ind., p. 29.)
Royle states that the plant was sent to him with the information that the root was employed as a cure for snake-bite by the hill people of the Himalaya. This fact is of interest, since P. Senega is similarly used in South America (Watt.)
113. P. chinensis, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 204.
Syn. : — P. arvensis, Willd; Roxb. 531.
Vern. : — Meradu or Miragu (H.); Gaighura (Santal.); Negli (Mar.) Pili Bhoysana (Guj. and Porebunder).
Habitat : — Throughout India, from the Punjab to Pegu, and in the Western Peninsula. In Porebundar State (Bardâ. Mt.)
An annual herb, most variable, usually procumbent, leafy, rather stout, 3-10 in. high, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves excessively variable, ⅓-2 in. long, sometimes quite obcordate, at others almost orbicular, at times narrow, linear, rather thick and coriaceous, glabrous, ciliate, hoary or pubescent, margins usually flat, opaque. Racemes axillary and extra-axillary, much shorter than the leaves, truncate, almost capitate. Bracts persistent, at least till the flower expands. Flower 1/5-¼ in. long. Wings longer than the sub-orbicular, notched, ciliate, narrowly winged, capsule green, falcate, obovate, acute ; margins membranous; crest of corolla very small. Seeds silky, strophiole with 3 short appendages.
Part used : — The root.
Use : — In Chutia Nagpur, the root is given medicinally in cases of fever and dizziness .(Campbell).
114. P. telephioides, Willd. h.f.b.i, i. 205.
Habitat : — Western Peninsula, Carnatic and Travancore,
An annual herb; stems very many from an annual woody root, prostrate, not exceeding 2-4 in. in height, pubes- cent. Leaves sessile, ½-¾ in., margins usually recurved, glabrous, often imbricate, very thick, obovate or oblong, obtuse or acute. Bracts caducous before flowering. Flowers 1/10 in. long, fascicled on very short, extra-axillary peduncles; outer sepals acute, wings herbaceous, oblique, acuminate. Capsule glabrous; not ciliate, 1/12 in. broad and long, deeply notched; valves margined. Seeds minute, silky, strophiole minutely 3-appendiculate.
Use : — Used in catarrhal affections by the natives of Madras. (Ph. Ind., p. 29.)
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