Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/275

tapering spikes ; lower floral leaves leaflike, upper smaller lanceolate. Calyx hairy, bell- shaped acutely 5-toothed. Corolla-tube included in the Calyx ; limb erect, 4-lobed, lobes, equal. Stamens 4, equal, protruding, filaments naked.

Uses:-—The leaves are officinal as astringent. Pudinah of Bombay gardens has exactly the odour of peppermint (Dymock).

A decoction is said to be used in fevers and heat apoplexy by the Afghans.

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Owing to the simultaneous occurrence in it of menthol, pulegone and a phenol, the oil cannot be used either as peppermint oil or as European pennyroyal or origanum oil. It is differentiated from oil of peppermint by its much higher specific gravity and by its pronounced dextra-rotatory power.

(Schimmel's Report, April 1910, quoted in J. Ch. I. for June 15, 1910, p. 716).

Vern. : — Pudinâh (Beng., Hind, and Dec.) ; Pudiná, I-ech-chak-kirai (Tam.) ; Pudíná, Tga-engili-kúra (Tel.) ; Putiyina (Mal.); Pudíná (Guz.); Bhúdína (Burm.); Chetni-maragu (Kan.)-

Habitat : — Western Himalaya and Kashmir.

A strong-scented perennial herb, hairy or glabrate. Stem l-2ft. Leaves shortly petioled or sessile, oblong-ovate, or lanceolate, l-2in., obtusely or acutely serrate, petioled or sessile. Bracts acute, shorter than the flowers, whorls axillary, capitate. Calyx hairy ; Calyx-teeth triangular or lanceolate. Corolla hairy without and within.

Use :— The dried plant is refrigerant, stomachic, diuretic and stimulant medicine. It possesses antispasmodic and emmenagogue properties (Fleming). Used in jaundice. The dried plant powdered is used as a dentifrice.

The scent of the fresh fruit is said to be useful to relieve fainting (Dr. Emerson Frequently given to stop vomiting ; a