N. 0. SAXIFRAGACEAE.
479. Saxifraga ligulata, Wall, h.b.f.i., ii. 398.
Vern.:—Pakhan-bed; Silphora (H.); Batpia, popal, shafrochi, banpatrak, dakachru (Pb.); Pashanbheda (Bomb.); Kamarghwal (Pushtu).
Habitat:—Temperate Himalaya, from Bhotan to Kashmir, and the Khasia Mts.
Perennial herbs. Rootstock stout. Leaves ample, undivided, with a large sheath at the base of the petiole; 2 in.-1 ft. in diam.; glabrous on both surfaces, dotted on the lower; scape corymbose, 6-18in. high. Petals white or red, rose or purplish, ½-1 in. long, orbicular, with a claw of variable length. Calyx-lobes erect in fruit Fruit sub-globose; styles very long. Capsules sometimes three-seeded, much larger than in any of the other species, elongate, sub-pyramidal, smooth.
Part used:—The root.
Use:—The root is used as a tonic in fevers, diarrhoea and cough, and also as an antiscorbutic. It is bruised and applied to boils and also in ophthalmia. It is also considered absorbent and given in dysentery (Atkinson and Dr. Stewart). In Sind, the root is rubbed down and given with honey to children when teething. (Murray.)
480. Dichroa febrifuga, Lour, h.f.b.l, ii., 406.
Syn.:—Adamia cyanea, Wall.
Vern:—Basak, bansuk asern Nepal); Gebocanak (Lepcha); Singnaamuk (Bhutia.)
Habitat:—Temperate Himalaya from Bhotan to Nepal and Khasia Mts.
An evergreen shrub, 5-9 ft. high, somewhat virgate. Bark yellow, peeling off in flakes; wood white, moderately hard; young offshoots and inflorescence pubescent, with short hair. Leaves opposite 3-8 in., lanceolate, blade 3-8, tapering into the petiole, ½-1 in. long; pubescent or puberulous on the nerves, otherwise glabrous, usually narrow, sometimes obovate-lanceolate. Petals 5 or 6, thick, valvate, 3/16 in. long. Ovary ¾ inferior
