2-3ft. Leaves ¾-l½in., sometimes almost as broad, lower floral large ; shortly petioled, ovate-cordate, obtuse-crenate. Spikes 4-8in., pale ; whorls secund dense -fid, in long interrupted villous spikes, upper crowded. Bracts lanceolate, often tinged with purple. Flowers ½in. long, lilac. Calyx ¼in. curved villous, hairs long ; teeth linear lanceolate, shorter than the tube often tinged with purple. Corolla very small, about one-third inch lilac, hairy, tube slender, longer than calyx (Collett). Nutlets broadly ellipsoid. J. D. Hooker says the plant is very like N. Ruderulis, but the inflorescence is more simple, the whorls rarely peduncled. Bentham describes the nutlets as minutely granular, but says Hooker that he finds them smooth.
Uses. — It is given in sherbet for fever and cough (Stewart).
1004. N. ruderalis, Hamilt., h.f.b.l, iv. 661.
Syn. — Glechoma, erecta, Roxb. 460.
Vern. — Billi-lotan, Badranj boya, Bebrang khatai (Pb.) ; Niasbo (Nepal).
Habitat. —Tropical and Sub-tropical India, from the Indus to Behar, Central India and the Concan, ascending the Himalaya to 8,000ft.
Annual herbs, erect or ascending, finely pubescent or hoary, stem 6-18in., branched from the base, robust or slender, obtusely 4-angled. Leaves broadly ovate or orbicular-cordate, obtuse crenate, ½-2½in., green or hoary ; petiole ¼-1¼in. Whorls ½-lin. diam., unilateral, depressed ; peduncles lin. Flowers pedicelled, ¼in. long, blue or purple, minutely darker dotted. Calyx hairy ; teeth linear-lanceolate, shorter than the tube. Corolla pubescent, slightly longer than the calyx, ¼in., purplish, says J. D. Hooker. "Calyx 1/6in., villious, mouth sub-equal, 3 upper teeth triangular, aristate, 2 lower filiform " (Hooker). Nutlets obscurely granulate, 1/26in. long, broad oblong, brown, spotted with white, mucilaginous when moistened. The granulation, says J. D, Hooker, consists of more or less tumid areolae and is sometimes very distinct.
Uses. — Supposed to be cardiac tonic (Stewart). Decoction used as a gargle in sore-throat. Largely used in fevers (Dr.
