Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/290

A small quantity of a bitter principle was extracted from the drug by absolute alcohol, along with the resin. This appeared to be different from the previous one extracted by ether.

These results point to the presence of two bitter principles besides marrubiin, which is in agreement with Hertel's statement, that after the separation of marrubiin the fluid extract appeared to be as bitter as before.

""Syn"". :— A. disticha, Heyne. Roxb. 459.

Vern. : — Gopâli (Bomb).

Habitat : —Tropical and Sub-tropical India, from the Indus to Assam, ascending the Himalaya to 5,000 ft, and south to Travancore.

An erect hairy annual herb, 3-6ft,, most variable in hairiness. Stems stout, acutely quadrangular, woolly-pubescent. Leaves 1½-2½in., ovate, acute, deeply crenate serrate, softly pubescent on both sides. Petiole about lin., hairy. Flowers nearly sessile, whorls dense axillary, distant below, but approximated above to form a dense spicate inflorescence. Bracts linear. Calyx-tube long campanulate, glandular and hairy, somewhat enlarged in fruit. Segments lanceolate, very acute, half as long as tube. Upper lip of Corolla oblong oval obtuse, lower lip with two middle lobes, large round deflexed, the lateral ones small. Stamens 4-unequal pair protruding from under the upper lip, outer or superior pair longer than the inner. Filaments with a tuft of long hairs in front. Nutlets 1/16in., hardly oblong, polished. Flowers white, the lower lobes of lip, pale pink violet, The leaves have a slightly camphor odour.

Use : — A distilled oil is prepared from it and found useful in uterine affections (Ph. Ind.). It has also carminative, astringent and tonic properties.

Syn. : — Ajuga fruticosa, Roxb. 458.

Vern. : — Pemayarutie (Tam.) ; Moga-beerakoo, mabheri,—china-ranabheri (Tel.) ; Gâozubân (Hind.) ; Chodhâra (Bombay) ; Mogbir-kâ-pattâ (Duk.) ; Pêyaverutti, irattai-pêy, marutti (Tam.) ; Moga-bira, maga-bira (Tel.) ; Pêyi-meratti, peruntûmba, karintûmba (Mal.).