Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/524

A perennial herb, with a root-stock in the form of a sheathed corm. Stem 0. Sheaths of corms closely reticulate, Corms large, globular, depressed. Leaves radical, long, slender, grass-like channeled above, white beneath, the edges turned back, fringed, and the lower portion of the leaf-bundle surrounded by sheaths of thin, translucent, whitish tissue. Flowers fragrant, solitary, or in bundles, enclosed in a 2-valved spathe, embracing the scape. Flowers violet, marked with lighter, autumnal, appearing with the leaves. Perianth large, tube very long, slender, funnel-shaped ; limb sub-equally 6-lobed, in 2 series ; the six segments equal in form and almost in size, but the inner ones are invariably somewhat shorter than the outer, concave, narrow, oblong. Throat of tube bearded. Stamens attached to the base of outer segments, the filaments free ; anthers yellow. Ovary hidden between the bases of the leaves, under ground, egg-shaped ; style thread-like, branching into 3 style-arms, i.e., stigmas exserted, orange-red, sub-clavate ; tips entire or lobulate. (These stigmas constitute the saffron of commerce). Capsule spindle-shaped ; seeds roundish (Step and Watson's Favourite Flowers of Gardens and Green-house, Vol. IV, page 553, London 1897).

Uses :— As a medicine, it is used in fevers, melancholia, and enlargement of the liver. It has also stimulant and stomachic properties, is highly thought of as a remedy for catarrhal affections of children, and is used in certain Indian dishes to give them a color. Mullahs (priests) make a kind of ink with this substance with which they write charms. (Dr. Emerson). Formerly regarded as anti-spasmodic and emmenagogue ; employed at present chiefly as a coloring and flavouring agent. (Ph.Ind.).

Syn. : — Pardanthus chinensis, Ker.

Habitat : — Very doubtfully wild in the Himalaya ; cultivated all over India ; a native of China.

Root-stock creeping, stem erect ; leafy. Leaves ensiform ;