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racemes oblong dense-fid., bracts ciliate, pedicels glabrous, perianth red eglandular nerves slender, stamens usually 6.

Chem. Comp.— It has the following percentage composition :— Moisture 10.07, ash 6.52, ethereal oil 0.053, wax 1.92, tannin 1.52, mucic and pectic substances 5.42, calcium oxalate 2.18, total nitrogen 3.97, ammonia 0.31, cellulose 27.61, volatile acids 0.0464, sugar 3.24. The ash contains Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, CI., So 3 , Si O₂ , P₂O₅ , and several quantities of Mn. It was dissolved by light petroleum, consists of an easily hydrolysable phytosterol oleate along with free phytosterol, and a solid acid melting at 55°C. The ethereal extract contains chlorophyll and a resin, and the alcoholic extract, sugar, tannin, gallic acid, quercetin and phlobaphen ; the latter is hydrolysed by dilute sulphuric acid forming a sugar which gives an osazone melting at 177° -178°C. Only traces of volatile aminic bases are present, but considerable quantities of ammonia, the bases precipitated by phosphotungstic acid are two or three in number and differ in their solubility in chloroform and amyl alcohol. The ethereal oil is noteworthy as consisting principally of volatile fatty acids, especially acetic and butyric acids ; the remainder is made up of a camphor-like solid with an agreeable odour (persicariol) and a liquid, not further investigated. (J. S. Ch. I. Jan, 15, 1902, p. 66.)

Syn. : — P. rivulare, Koen., Roxb. 335.

Vern. : — Narri (Pb ) ; Bekh-unjubaz (P.); Atalari (Tam.) ; Kondamalle, niru ganeru (Tel.) ; Velluta modela mukku (Malay) ; Dhâktâ slieral (Mar.) ; Mangarleta (Jaspur).

Habitat: — Throughout the hotter parts of India, from Assam to the Indus, and southwards to Malacca, Penang and Ceylon.

Stems erect, glabrous, 1½— 3ft. Leaves numerous, 5-6in., linear-lanceolate, nearly sessile, tapering to both ends, acute, finely hairy on both sides and at margins ; stipules 1½in., usually longer than internodes, strigose with long hair, ciliate, with strong coarse hair, as long as the tube. Flowers on short slender pedicels. Racemes 2-4in., erect, slender, rather lax. Bracts strongly pectinate. Perianth white, without glands. Styles 3. Stamens 5-8. Fruit a nut, triangular, black shining.

Uses : — The seeds are employed in Malabar and Canara to relieve the griping panis of colic (Dr. Stewart, also Dr. Ainslie). In Patna, the root is used as an astringent and cooling remedy (Irvine). In China, a decoction of the leaves and stalks is said to be used as a stimulating wash for ulcers (Watt).