997. M. Bengalensis, Benth. h.f.b.i., iv. 653.
Syn. : — Salvia bengalensis, Roxb, 49.
Habitat : — Native of Abyssinia ; cultivated in India.
Vern : — Kapur-ka-patta (H.) ; Sesti (Bom.); Shima-karpuram-áku (Tam.)
A large strongly-scented, straggling shrub, finely tomentose or hoary. Branches cylindric. Leaves 2-3 by 1-1¼in., finely crenulate, obtuse thinner than in M. strobilifera, as finely granulate above and reticulate beneath, base rounded or bractate. Petiole slender, ¼-½in., spikes terminal with interrupted ebracteate globose whorls. Whorls ¼-½in. diam., villous. Calyx ¼in. long, pedicelled, teeth acute. Corolla white, lips spreading or recurved. Nutlets obovoid, smooth, brown (J. D. Hooker).
Uses : — The camphoraceous bitter plant possessing the properties of Sage (Salvia officinalis). Leaves are much used in native practice, an infusion being an useful application to aphthæ and sore throats, according to Mr. Rama Churn Bose, who also notices its power to diminish or arrest the secretion of milk (Pharm. Ind.).
998. Salvia moorcroftiana, Wall., h.f.b.i., iv. 654.
Vern. — Kâli-jari ; Shobri ; Gurgumna (Pb.).
Habitat. — Western Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon.
A very robust tall erect herb, clothed with white, usually woolly or cottony hairs on stem, leaves beneath and often above petiole and branches of panicle ; very rarely glabrous. Stems 1½-3ft. Leaves thick, long stalked, ovate or oblong, 5-8 by 2½- 6in., sinuately and irregularly lobed, crenate or sharply toothed ; upper surface nearly glabrous or cottony-tomentose, closely wrinkled ; lower white tomentose. Flowers lin. long, pale blue, lilac or nearly white, in many distant whorls ; bracts large, pale, green- veined, orbicular, abruptly pointed. Calyx bristly, bell-shaped ; teeth spinous ; upper-lip 3-toothed. Corolla- tube much longer than the calyx ; upper lip long, curved, flattened, concave (Collett). Nutlets subglobose (J. D. Hooker).
