Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/167

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Dr. Thornton is of opinion that the drug is useful in leprous affections.

The authors of the Pharmacographia Indica describe the drug as beneficial in dyspepsia due to torpidity of the intestines and as a valuable remedy in scrofulous skin diseases.



N. O. CRUCIFERÆ.

70. Matthiola incana R. Br. h.f.b.i., i. 131.

Habitat:—Cultivated in the gardens of N. India.

Vern.:—Todri safed (Pb. Sind).

A shrubby, erect, hoary herb. Stem 1-2 ft.; branched. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, entire; rarely obscurely toothed Raceme 1-2 in. Flowers in May- June. 1-2 in. diam., purple to violet. Siliqua glandular, 2-4 in., in. broad. Seed orbicular, winged.

Hooker says that it is the "Queen-Stock" of English gardens where it is treated as an annual or biennial.

Parts used:—The seeds.

Uses:—The seeds are said to be aphrodisiac (Stewart). The seeds are of three kinds, yellow, red and white; used in infusion in cancer, are expectorant, mixed with wine given as an antidote to poisonous bites (Dr. Emerson)


71. Cheiranthus Chieri, Linn. h.f.b.i., i. 132.

The English wild "Wall-flower".

Habitat:—Not indigenous, but cultivated in gardens in North India.

Vern.:—Todri Surkh, Lahoori shuboo (H); Khueri (B).

Stem shrubby, erect, bushy, branched in a determinate manner; branches angular, leafy, hoary, with close bristly silvery hairs, chiefly directed downwards, like those on both sides of the leaves; though some point the contrary way, on the leaves as well as the siliqua, being perfectly distinct from others. Leaves crowded, stalked, lanceolate, acute, almost