Salvia plebeia R. Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl. 500. 1810
syn: Salvia brachiata Roxb.
Annual, up to 60 cm tall, usually branched from base; covered with glandular and eglandular hairs; leaves opposite, ovate-elliptic to oblong, 2-6 cm long, base rounded to cuneate, margin crenate to serrate, finely pilose; flowers small, forming up to 25 cm long panicles,; calyx about 2.6 mm long, 2-lipped up to 1/3,; corolla pale pink to white, 2.5-4 mm long, tube 2 mm long, pilose; nutlets brownish, mucilaginous on wetting.
Photographed from open hill slopes in Morni hills tract on April 9, 2011.
Local names:
Beng: kala-buradi, bhua tulasi
Punjab: Sathi, samundar sok
Mumbai: Kammar kas (seed)
Mundari: jingiba
Mucilaginous seeds are used in menorrhagia, diarrhoea and hemorrhoids. Mucilage also used for giving gloss to hair.
--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/