Habitat :— Deccan Peninsula. Common in the Western Ghauts.
A shrubby annual herb, densely tomentose or thickly woolly, 4-6ft. Branches sometimes very stout and most densely clothed with somewhat adpressed wool. Leaves 2-6in., very thick, oblong, linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, acute or acuminate, crenate or serrate ; base cuneate, very rarely cordate. Petiole 1/6-½in., very stout. Spikes sometimes very heavy with dense whorls, 2in. diam , densely woolly ; bracts filiform, Calyx ¼-⅓in., villous or woolly ; teeth narrow lanceolate, slender. Corolla purple. Nutlets pale.
Uses : — In Southern India, few plants are held in higher esteem, or are more frequently employed in native practice, than this. An infusion of the aromatic bitter leaves is in common use in affections of the stomach and bowels, catarrhal affections and intermittent fevers. According to Dr. Wight (Ilust., vol. ii, p. 221), in addition to its internal use in the cure of fevers, patients are made to inhale the vapour of a hot infusion so as to induce copious diaphoresis An infusion of the leaves is reported by Dr. Æ Ross to be powerfully diaphoretic, and very useful in the low continued fevers of the natives. An oil obtained by distillation of the leaves is likewise stated to prove an effectual external application in rheumatism. The virtues of this plant seem worthy of further investigation (Ph. Ind..). " Ainslie tells us that an infusion of the leaves is given to children in colic, dyspepsia and fever arising from teething. A decoction of the plant, or the essential oil distilled from the leaves, is used externally in rheumatism " (Dymock).
1011. Stachys parviflora, Benth., h. f.b.i. , iv. 677.
Vern. : — Kirimara ; Baggibûti (Pb.) ; Speraghunai (Pushtu).
Habitat : — Punjab Plains and Hills, from the Jhelum eastwards and northwards to Murree.
Herbs densely clothed with floculent white wool, branched from the base and upwards. Stem and branches very stout nearly terete. Leaves l-3in., sessile, thick, elliptic oblong or oblong ovate, or lanceolate, sub-acute entire or serrate ; floral far exceeding the flowers, glabrous and shining or cottony
