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From these experiments they conclude that the active principle is decomposed on the slightest heating, and that the only proper preparation of the drug would be one made without the application of heat. They prepared the polygomic acid of Dr. Rademaker, and conclude from their
experiments that it is only a mixture of impure tannic and gallic acids. (Pharmacog. Ind. Ill pp. 150-151.)
1062. P. alatum Ham., h.f.b.i., v. 41.
Syn. : — P. Nepalense, Meissu.
Vern. :— Sat balon (Pb.).
Habitat : — Throughout the Himalaya, from Sikkim to Kashmir. Khasia Mts., Nilghiri Mts., Canara ; and the Baba-budan Hills.
An annual herb. Stem l-2ft., long, rarely creeping for a short distance at the base, erect and sub-simple or branched from the base, erect, tall or low, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Branches 6-8in. high, slender or rather stout, flaccid or stiff. Leaves large or small (¾-1½in. long), ovate or deltoid, ovate-obtuse or acute or narrowed into a broadly winged, often amplexicaul, petiole, glandular or not. Stipules tubular, obliquely truncate. Peduncles glandular, hispid at tip. Involucre-leaf often longer than the head, sessile, ovate, cordate, obtuse or acute. Heads usually with an involucral leaf, ¼-¾in. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, not ciliate. Perianth 1-5-fid, stamens 7-8, included, sepals white or pale-purple, membranous, sub-equal, very variable in size. St}de long, with one or two long arms and capitate stigmas. Nut varying in size, 1-in., the same head, closely invested and cohering with the thin perianth-tube and crowned with the lobes, bi-convex or tri-gonous, striate and punctate.
Use.:__In Kangra its leaves are applied to swellings (Stewart).
1063. P. Molle Don Brod., h.f.b.i., iv. 50.
Habitat :— Central and Eastern Himalaya; Nepal, Sikkim, Mishmi Hills.
Shrubby, erect, 3-6ft. Stems angled, hairy, becoming tomentose in the upper parts. Leaves stalked or the upper nearly sessile, oblong-lanceolate, 4-9in. by 1½-3½in, long-pointed, upper