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angles ; spines in pair at the nodes. Leaves few or wanting. Involucres ½in. diam., yellow or green-yellow, hemispheric, in compact sessile, 3-fid cymes, from the sinus between, the nodes ; styles free nearly to the base. Cocci compressed, glabrous. Capsule ¾in. diam.

Use : — The acrid, milky juice possesses cathartic and anthelmintic properties (Watt).

Vern : — Hirtiz (Kashmir).

Habitat : — Western Tibet, Leh and Gilgit.

Perennial herb, quite glabrous. Stems a foot high, simple, sparingly leafy, from a stout perennial stock, unbranched, scaly at the base. Leaves ½-¾in., or even ¾-1½in. broad, coriaceous, dull yellow when dry, upper and under surface alike ; sessile elliptic or ovate-obtuse or sub-acute ; nerves few, obscure, ascending, floral, broader, involucral, 2 sub-orbicular. Rays 3-6, longer than the floral leaves. Involucres campanulate, glabrous, without, with 4 hairy lines within ; ⅛in. broad ; lobes small, fimbriate ; styles long, slender ; glands sub-stipitate, transversely oblong. Capsule shortly stipitate, ⅓in. long, ¼in. diam. ; cocci not separate by a deep sulcus, oblong. Seeds smooth, pale, oblong, 1/6in. long ; caruncle small, peltate. A very distinct species.

Uses : — The crushed root-stocks are employed by the natives of Kuram as detergents for washing the hair, and, when boiled, are given as purgatives (Aitchison).

In Kashmir, the root-stock is employed to adulterate " kut " (Saussurea Lappa) and is called by the Kashmiris " Hirtiz." The stem, root and leaves are said to be used medicinally. (Aitchison).

Vern. :— Hirruseeah ; Mahabi (H.) ; Gandabuti, dudai, kulfa-dodak, chatriwal (Pb.).

Habitat : — Throughout the Punjab plains and the Siwalik tract, ascending to 7,000 feet in the outer Himalaya. Introduced into the Nilghiri hills,