651. Spilanthes Acmella, Linn., h.f.b.l, iii 307.
Habitat: — Throughout India.
An annual herb, more or less pubescent, sometimes hairy. Stems prostrate near the base or ascending, l-2ft., much branched, cylindric, more or less hairy. Leaves opposite, ¾-1½in., ovate, ovate-lanceolate, suddenly tapering at base, acute, faintly and irregularly serrate, glabrous or nearly so, thin, somewhat 3-nerved ; petiole long, slender pilose. Beads apparently terminal, really axillary on long glabrous peduncles, ovate ovoid, bracts leafy, lanceolate, subacute ; discoid or radial, ⅓-¾in. long, solitary. Receptacle narrowly conical, or covered with concave scales, each enclosing the lower part of the flower. Flowers yellow (or white, Collett), mostly 2-sexual, or the outer female, and shortly rayed. Pappus none, 1 or 2 bristles. Corolla bell-shaped, tube, short, lobes triangular, 4, spreading. Achenes flattened, oblong, dark-brown, dull, each enclosed in a scale.
Uses: — The flower-heads are by far the most pungent part, and are chewed by the natives to relieve toothache, which they do by producing redness of the gums and salivation. Dr. W. Farquhar has used and recommended a tincture of the flower-heads for toothache, in place of tincture of pyrethrum. He says it is a specific for inflammation of the periosteum of the jaws. A bit of lint, dipped in the tincture and laid on the gums, repeated 3 or 4 times a day, has a speedy effect in reducing the pain and swelling (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II. p. 283).
652. S. oleracea, Jacq. h.f.b.l, iii. 307 ; Roxb.
(Reduced to a variety of S. Acmella. Linn, Fl. Br. Ind.) p. 307, Vol. III by D. Hooker.
Vern. : — Akarâ (Bomb.); Roshuniya (B,) ; Akarkarhâ, Pokurmul (Pb.); Ukrâ (M.) Marâtimogga, Marâtitige (Tel.).
Habitat: — Cultivated in gardens throughout India.
With regard to variety, Oleracea Clarke, J. D. Hooker remarks thus : — " More robust and succulent, heads and leaves larger, peduncles subsolitary, achenes as in variety Acmella
