Habitat : — Common throughout India.
An annual herb, stellate]y woolly, sometimes less hairy, rarely glabrous. Stem prostrate, much branched, leafy. Leaves ½-1in., opposite or whorled, usually obovate, but vary from round to narrow-lanceolate; petiole O-¼in. Flowers usually sessile or nearly so ; pedicels sometimes ¾in. Sepals ⅛-¼in., elliptic or oblong, acute. Staminodes linear or 0. Stamens usually 10 or more, or even 5. Styles 3-5, linear, short. Capsule a little shorter than sepals, oblong. Seeds many, covered with raised tubercular points, the appendage sometimes carrying mere than one bristle. This is a very variable weed in tanks, marshes and rice-fields (K. R. K.).
Uses : — In the Punjab, given as a purgative in diseases of the abdomen (Stewart).
The dried plant is prescribed by native practitioners in Sindh for diarrhœa (Murray).
In Puddokota, the juice is administered internally to weak children (Pharmacographia Indica, vol. II., p. 104).
562. M. Spergula, Linn., h.f.b.i., ii. 662.
Sans. : — Grishma-Sundaraka, Phani-ja.
Vern. : — Jima (H. B.) ; Toora-elley, Kacchantharai (Tam.) ; Chayuntârâshiâkoo (Tel); Jharasi (Mar.); Kaipajira (Mal.); Parpataka (Can.).
Habitat : — Throughout India, except U.P., Panjab or Sindh.
Branched herbs, glabrous or nearly so. Stems diffuse, leafy. Leaves ½-1in., usually whorled, spathulate, lanceolate, or elliptic. Petiole 0-⅓in. Pedicels ⅛-½in., oblong, margins often membranous. Stamens 5-10, stigmas 3, minute. Capsule ellipsoid, a little shorter than the sepals. Seeds many, covered with raised tubercular points, the appendage sometimes comprises a second, yet more minute, short subulate bristle.
Uses : — Considered stomachic, aperient and antiseptic. Ainslie (ii., 431), writes that the plant is administered for suppression of the lochia, and when applied warm and moistened with a little castor oil, is reckoned a good application for earache.
