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Vern : — Nattu-ati-vadayam (Tam.) ; Natti-ati-vasa (Tel.).

Habitat : — Bengal, Deccan Peninsula.

A small grass-like herb growing on the margins of ditches and ponds, submerged during the rainy season only. Root-stock tuberous, soboliferous ; roots vermiform. Leaves 3-8 by ⅓-⅔in., linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, narrowed from the middle to both ends ; nerves nearly parallel ; petiole short, stout. Spathe subsessile, 3-5in. long; tube very short, much shorter than the limb, linear-lanceolate, at first twisted, greenish outside, dark-purple and transversely lamellate within. Ovaries 5-6; stigmas broadly elliptic. (Cooke).

Uses : — The Ati-vadayam of the Tamils is the Atis of Northern India, and is the tuber of Aconitum heterophyllum. The country Atis of the Madras Presidency has for a long time been undetermined, until in 1888 Mr. M. A. Lawson was able to refer it to Cryptocoryne spiralis and a species of Lagenandra. Moodeen Sheriff says the root bears a strong resemblance externally to Ipecacuanha, and he has used it as a tonic and anti-periodic with children. It attracted attention a few years ago through several packages of it appearing in the London market as " False Ipecacuanha." It is a well-known drug in Ceylon, where it is employed by the native doctors in decoctions, in combination with other drugs as a remedy for infantile vomiting and cough, and in the case of adults for abdominal complaints and fever. (Dymock).

Vern.: — Jal-kumbhi, tâkâpânâ (H. and B.) ; Banjhánjhe (Uriya) ; Prashni, gondâla (Mar.) ; Kodda-pail (Mal.). Anter-ghunga (Dec.) ; Agasatmary (Tam.); Anterei-tamara (Tel.).

Eng. :— The Wester-lettuce.

Habitat :— Throughout India, in still sweet water.

A floating, gregarious, stemless, stoloniferous herb. Roots of tufted simple white fibres clothed with fibrillæ. Leaves l¼-4in. long in Indian forms, apex rounded or retuse, undulate, pubescent above and beneath ; nerves raised beneath, flabelliform,