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Dymock writes that in Bombay a powder of the tubers " is used as a popular local application in mumps (Galgand), but as they are generally combined with more active remedies, such as Croton seed, Aconite, and Nux-vomica, it is probable that they do not contribute much to the cure." " The sub- stance of the rhizomes and tubers is of a pale straw-colour, has a bitter, pungent, camphoraceous taste, much like that of true Zedoary ; the whole plant is aromatic." In the Gazetteer of the Rewa-Kanta District, it is stated that the roots are stomachic and are also applied to swellings. Thwaites remarks that in Ceylon the root is employed medicinally, but he does not state for what purpose. The almost universal belief (from one side of India to the other) that the rhizomes are useful in reducing swellings, would suggest the desirability of this subject being more carefully investigated in the future. (Watt.)

Sans. : — Karpurakáchali.

Vern. : — Sit-rutí, kapúr kachri (Hind.) ; Kachur-kachu, ban kela, sákí, banhaldí, khor, shalwi, shedúri, (Bazár root) = kapúr kachri, kachúr (Pb.); Kapur kachari* (Mar. and Guz.) ; Shimai-kich-chilik kishangu (Tam.).

Habitat : — Sub-tropical Himalaya ; Nepal ; Kumaon.

A perennial herb. Rootstock horizontal, tubrous ; root fibres not much thickened. Stem elongate, leafy. Leaves reaching 1ft. or more, very variable in breadth, glabrous, oblong or oblong-lanceolate. Spike sometimes 1ft., dense-fid. Bracts oblong, obtuse, green, large, 1-fid, 1-1½ by ¾in. broad. Flowers ascending and closely imbricate, white. Calyx shorter than the bract. Corolla-tube 2-2½in.; segments lin., linear. Staminode lin., lanceolate ; lip cuneate, deeply bifid, ½-¾in., broad, not at all clawed. Stamen 1, rather shorter than the lip ; anther linear, ¼-⅓in., 2-celled, connective very narrow, neither

• It is a mistake to call this plant Kapur Kachri. The real Kachri is Kæmpferdie galanga. The Maráthi name of Hedychium spicatum is Sonatakka, (K. R. K.)