Morphological information

A diffuse under shrub 50- 90 cm high, stems and branches sparingly prickly and clothed with long weak bristles from bulbous bases. Leaves sensitive, digitate; petioles 2.5- 5 an long, bristly; stipules 8 mm long, linear- lanceolate, acute, bristly; pinnae-1- 2 pairs, 5- 7.5 an long, sessile or nearly so, their rachises clothed with ascending bristles. Leaflets 12- 20 pairs, 6- 8 by 4 mm, sessile, conaceous, linear oblong, acute, glabrous above, clothed with appressed bristles beneath, base obliquely rounded. Flowers pink, in globose heads, 6- 8 mm diameter. Pedundes 2- 2.5 an long, prickly, usually in axillary pairs all along the branches. Bracteole solitary, linear, acute, ciliolate. Calyx very minute. Corolla pink, 2- 2.5 mm long divided about 1/3 the way down; lobes 4, ovate- oblong, obtuse. Stamens 4, much exerted anthers not gland- crested. Pods 1.3- 2 cm by 3- 4 mm, flat, slightly recurved, consisting of 3- 5 seeded joints which fall away from the persistent sutures which are clothed with spreading yellowish weak bristles 3mm long, the faces of the pools glabrous.

Flowering                                    : May-October

Fruiting                                       : September-October

History                                       :

Parts                                          : Root, leaves.

Status                                        : Low risk

Phytochemistry                          : Mucilage of seeds contained galactose and marmose in ratio of 1: 1.

 

Ayurvedic

 The root is bitter and acrid; cooling, vulnerary, alexipharmic; cures "Kapha", biliousness, leprosy, dysentery, vaginal and uterine complaints, inflammations, burning sensation, fatigue, asthma, leucoderma, diseases of the blood.

Unani

The root is resolvent, alternative; useful in diseases arising from corrupted blood and bile, bilious fevers, piles, jaundice, leprosy, ulcers, small pox.

 

Other

A decoction of the root of the plant is considered useful in urinary complaints. A paste of the leaves is applied to glandular swellings; the juice of leaves is used in dressings for sinus and also as an application for sores and piles. The leaf and stem in combination with other drugs are recommended for the treatment of snake- bite and scorpion sting (Lepcha system).

 

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