Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/544

(C-p. 133°). A small quantity of a substance was isolated from the fractions boiling above 100° (10 mm.), and appears to be identical with one of the compounds obtained from oil of asafœtida. The residue boiling above 126° (10 mm.) contains a higher sulphide, and gives the compound C₆H₁₂S₂ on reduction with zinc-dust. Neither allyle sulphide, nor a sesquinterpene were present.— J. Ch. S. LXIV. pt. I (1893) p. 104.

The outer skins of the bulb of the onion contain a yellow colouring matter (Quercetin) of which the formula is C₁₅H₁₀O₇.

Sans.: — Lasuna ; Mahaushada.

Vern. : — Lassun (H.) ; Rasun (B.) ; Naharu (Am,) ; Lasun (Mar.) ; Shunam (Dec.) ; Vallai-pundu (Tam.) ; Velluli-talla-gadda(TeL); Belluli (Kan.) ; Gokpas (Bhote). The best kind sold in Bombay is called " Goghari Lusoon. (K. R. K.)

Habitat :— Cultivated much in the U. P., especially in Garhwal, and Kumaon. Also in the Panjab and Kashmir. In the Western Peninsula.

A perennial herb. The true stem, which is much reduced, gives off roots from the base, and supports, as cauline appendages, the overlapping scales (old leaf bases), which were thickened below and bear, in their axils, small bulbs or cloves. These closely imbricating scales, together with the cloves and the reduced stem, form the bulb. The leaves are flat. The slender flowering stem, or scape, emerges from the centre of the bulb, and bears a few flowers in umbels, the majority being replaced by dimunitive bulbs or bulbils. (Duthie.) Spathes long-beaked. Sepals lanceolate, acuminate. Stamens 3-pointed. (Roxb.) Inner filaments 2-toothed.

Uses : — Garlic is considered hot and aperient ; given in fevers, coughs, piles, leprosy, being regarded as carminative, diuretic, stomachic, alterative, emenagogue and tonic, and much used in nervous affections. Externally, the juice is applied to the ears for deafness and pain. The oil extracted from the seed is also medicinal. The cloves of the bulb are given in confection for rheumatism. The properties of garlic depend upon a volatile oil which may readily be obtained by