N. 0. UMBELLIFERÆ.
566. Hydrocotyle asiatica, Linn, h.f.b.l, ii. 669 ; Roxb. 270.
Sans. : — Manduka parni.
Vern. : —Brahma manduki, Khula khudi (H.) ; Thulkuri (B.) ; Vallarei (Tam.) ; Manduka-brummi, Babassa (Tel.) ; Codagam (Mal.), Brahmi ; Karinga (Bomb.); Vallárai (Dec); Von-delogâ (Kan.) ; Kutakan, Kodagam (Malay.).
Eng. : — Asiatic Pennywort.
Habitat : — Throughout India. Ceylon, waste grassy places a very common weed, from sea-level to the highest elevations.
Prostrate, perennial herbs. Stems long, prostrate, given off from leaf-axils of a short vertical rootstock, cord like, glabrous, with very long internodes. Leaves ½-2½in. long, several — from the rootstock, 1-2 from each node of the runners, petiole 3-6in., erect glabrous, furrowed above ; stipules short, adnate to petiole, but forming a sheathing base. Blade orbicular, reniform, entire, crenate or lobulate, horizontal, more or less cupped. l½-2in. The rounded basal-lobes often overlapping, glabrous and shining on both sides. Flowers nearly sessile, usually 3 together, at end of short erect pubescent peduncles, 1-3 from the nodes, opposites the leaves ; bracts 2, close beneath umbel, ovate, obtuse ; Calyx-segments ; Petals minute, ovate acute (Trimen) ; obtuse umbricate (C. B. Clarke). Ovary very much compressed, slightly hairy, styles very short, erect. Fruit about i1/6in., ovoid, hard ; pericarp thickened, mericarps with the primary and secondary ribs, very obscure or vein-like. Flowers dark-pink (Trimen).
Use : — In Sanskrit works, it is described as a useful alterative and tonic in diseases of the skin, nervous system and blood (Dutt).
Ainslie says that an infusion of the leaves with Fenugreek is given to children in bowel complaints and fever. On the Coromandel Coast, the leaves are applied to the parts that have suffered from blows and bruises,
