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Uses : — Demulcent, and mildly astringent. The seeds have been found serviceable in febrile, catarrhal, and renal affections, but their chief use is in diarrhœa and dysentery Moistened with water, they form a good emollient poultice.

The seeds yield to water a good deal of mucilage, and form a cooling demulcent drink which is prescribed in cases where emollients are required. A slight degree of astringency and some tonic property may be imparted to the seeds by application of a moderate degree of heat, and it is said that this remedy cures the chronic diarrhœa of European and native children on the failure of other medicines. (Bentley and Trimen.)

The crushed seeds made into a poultice with vinegar and oil are applied to rheumatic and gouty swellings. With the mucilage a cooling lotion for the head is made. Two to three drachms moistened with hot water and mixed with sugar are given in dysentery and irritation of the intestinal canal to procure an easy stool. The decoction is prescribed in cough. The roasted seeds have an astringent effect, and are useful in irritation of the bowels in children and in dysentery.

Habitat: — North-Western Punjab; Peshawar and South of Bannoo; Tarki, N, of Indus.

Scapigerous herbs, annual, erect, strict, glandular-pubescent. Stem leafy, 4-8in. Leaves opposite, linear or linear-lanceolate, flat, obtuse, l-l½in., with fascicles in their axils, hence appearing whorled ; margin entire, with a very few glandular tubercles ; bases, ciliate. Peduncles in the upper axils. Scapes usually shorter than the leaves. Spikes ovoid, ⅓-½in. ; bracts acute, lower elongate, hispid. Sepals oblong, subacute. Corolla very small.

Use :— The seeds are used like those of P. Major, Linn.

Sans. : — Punarnavâ ; Sothaglmi.