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has been presumed to posses would, therefore, not appear to depend upon any single substance of a definite chemical character. (Hooper.)

Sans. :— Rakta vinda chada.

Vern. : — Dudiya sweta kerna (B.) ; Dudhi, chotka dudhi (H); Bara dodak, hazârdâna (Pb.) ; Chinamam ; Sittra paladi ; Patcha arise (Tam.) ; Reddi vâri mânu bâla ; Biduru nâna biyyam (Tel.); Nâyeti (Bomb.); Mathi-dudhi (Mar).

Habitat : — Throughout India in the plains and lower hills, ascending in Kashmir to 5,500 ft,

A small, pubescent, much-branched, annual herb ; stems 4-12in. divaricately branched, spreading flat on ground, stipular, minute, serrate. Leaves opposite, oblong, ¼in., obtuse; teeth acute or rounded. Involucres campanulate, minute, axillary ; teeth 4 ; lobes very short ; glands green, narrowly bordered with a white petitles ; very short, rounded limb, sometimes absent. Styles short. Capsule pubescent with bluntly keeled lobes ; seeds wrinkled.

" The whole plant has often a coppery tinge," says Trimen. It flowers all the year round. Colour pink, a common weed. Flower heads very small ; sessile, l-3in. axil. Trimen makes the following remark, which is well worth quoting here : — " The severed end of a branch, made to touch lightly the surface of water, has the singular effect of violently repelling to considerable distance all floating particles in the neighbourhood."

Uses : — The expressed juice or powdered plant with wine is given as a remedy for the bites of venomous reptiles, and is applied externally to the bitten part ; with milk it acts as a purgative and expels all noxious humors from the body. According to Ainsile, the Sanskrit name is Rakta-vindu-chhada, which would imply that it is a remedy for Rakta-vindu, " gonorrhœa with sanious discharge." He remarks :— " The very small leaves and seeds of this low-growing annual plant, which, in their dried state, are slightly aromatic and a little astringent, are given by the Tamool doctors, in worm cases, and in certain bowel affections of children ; they are commonly administered in the form