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slender axillary and terminal long slender simple or panicled spikes of small clusters. Sepals closing the utricle. Seed horizontal, smooth, shining; margin horizontal. Wight remarks that the flowers are polygamous at Coimbatore. (J. D. Hooker.)
Uses: — This is said to afford an essential oil to which the tonic and antispasmodic properties of the plant are attributed. It is commonly reported that this plant is used as a substitute for the officinal C. Anthelminticum, having in a milder degree the anthelmintic properties of that plant. It is employed in pectoral complaints and enjoys the European reputation as a useful remedy in nervous affections, particularly chorea. Officinal preparation an infusion. It is remarkable that the properties of this plant should be practically unknown to the people of India. (Watt. II. 267.)
1044. Beta vulgaris, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 5.
Syn. : — B. benghalensis, Roxb. 260.
Vern. :— Bit palang (B.) ; Lebleboo (Pb.) ; Pàlak (HA
Habitat : — Largely cultivated in Bengal and Upper India.
A succulent annual or perennial glabrous herb. Stem l-3ft., erect, furrowed. Lower or root leaves ovate or oblong-obtuse, often trowel-shaped, base cuneate or cordate, decurrent on the petiole, margin waved, upper or cauline, short incurved, rhombic-ovate, oblong-ovate or lanceolate. Flowers 2-sexual, sessile, solitary or 2-3-adnate, in axillary spiked or cymose clusters. Spikes 6-18in., slender; clusters remote. Bracts narrow, acute. Perianth urceolate, 5-lobed, covering in fruit by their enlarged hardened bases. Sepals oblong-obtuse, with membranous margins, thickened at base in fruit. Ovary depressed, sunk in the fleshy annular disk. Style short, Stigmas 2-4-subulate. Utricle adnate to the disk and base of perianth. Seed horizontal, testa thin, albumen floury, Embryo annular.
Use : — The seeds have cooling and diaphoretic properties. Bellew says that the fresh leaves are applied to burns and bruises. (Watt.}
The ethereal extract of the dry matter of the common mangel was examined and found to contain triglycerides, free fatty acids, and two neutral subs-