Uses : — It is considered to be antiseptic by the Hindus, and its juice is rubbed over the body in pestilent fevers. Rheede notices its use for this purpose, and also internally in dysentery combined 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 Calumnea 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 agreeable and calls to mind that of camphor and oil of lemons. (Pharmacographia Indica, III — 7).
889. Herpestis Monniera, H. B. and K. h.f.b.i., iv. 272,
Syn. : — Gratiola Monniera, Linn. Roxb. 47.
Vern. : — Brahmi, jal-nîm, shwet chamni (Hind.) ; Adhabirni (Beng.); Urishnaparni (Uriya) ; Bâma, Nirbrâhmi (Bom.); Beami nirpirimie (Tam.) ; Sembranichitíû (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 ½-¾in, 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 1/6-⅓in. 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, irregular, 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
