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5. ETOIVUIUS alsinoides Linn. Sp. Pi. cd. 2, 392. 1762. (Fig. 144).
CONVOLVULACEAE
Evohutu* linifolius Linn.—Evolvulus angustifolius Roxb.—Evolvulus hirsutus Lamk.—Evolvutus
sericeus Wall.—Convolvulus valerianoidcs Blanco.
S'nh. Vishnukranthi; Tarn. Vishnukarundi. Vishnukranthi; Hindi Shyamakranta;
Sans. Laghuvrshnukranta, Nilapushpi. Vishm'gandbi, Vishnukranta.
A perennial herb with a small, woody, branched rootstock and numerous, prostrate,
spreading slender, wiry stems usually with long spreading hair; leaves simple, alternate,
exstipulatc. 0.6—1.5 cm long, 5—8 mm broad, nearly sessile, oblong—oval, usually acute
at base, very obtuse but apiculate at apex, densely covered with hair on both sides; flowers
regular, bisexual 7.5 mm across, bright blue on short filiform oedicels, solitary or 2, bracts
small linear-hnccoiate, persistent, peduncle 9 mm long, filiform, hairy, usually longer than leaves;
sepals 5, equal, 3.5 mm long, lanceolate, acute-, very hairy; petals 5, fused into a riearly rotate
corolla about 9 mm in diameter, lobes obscure; stamens 5, exserted; ovary superior, 2-locuIar
with two ovules in each loculus, styles 2, each deeply bifid, stigmas linear; fruit capsule about
2.5 mm across, globose, 4-valved, 4-secded with persistent calyx; seeds brown, glabrous.
Flowers all the year round.
Illustrations. Burmann,Thes. Zeyl. pi. 9. 1737; Wight. III. pi. 168b, f. 10. 1841—50;
Kirtikar and UMU. Indian Med. Plants, pi. 6685. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. Occurs in tropical and subtropical countries, including India, Ceylon and
Philippine Islands. In Ceylon, it is verv common in dry and sandy ground in the low-country,
up to an altitude of 2000 feet.
India. E. Bengal: East India Co., Herb. Griffith 5871/2, Kew Distribution 1863—4.
Maisor and Carnatic: G. Thomson. Malabar. Concan. etc. Stocks, Law, etc. Pen. Ind. Or., Herb.
Wight 2004, Kew Distribution 1866—7. Ceylon. Northern Prov., Thwaites CP. 1926; Talaimannar,
J. At. Silva, July 1916. Western Prov., Negombo, Senaratne, Dec. 1940; Jaela, Afudtr.
Rajapakse, Dec. 1913. Sabaragamuwa Prov., between Delgoda and Karawita, Lewis and J. M.
Silva, March 1919. Maldlve Islands. Hulule, Gardiner 64, 1899—191*0; Heddufuri, Gardiner
;S99—1900. Indo-China. Hue and vicinity. Squires 384. Jan-May 1927. CMna. Hongkong: Herb,
llance 502, Oct. 1809. Philippine Islands: Luzon: Zambales Prov., Mt. Tapolao, Ramos and
Edano 44736, Nov.—Dec. 1924.
Composition. The stems and leaves of this plant contain an alkaloid, a yellow, neutral
fat, an organic acid and a saline substance.
Uses. Reputed to be an excellent remedy for bowel complaints and dysentry. It is also
used in the form of a decoction as a febrifuge, alterative, vermifuge, and for nervous debility,
loss of memory, syphilis, scrofula, etc. With, oil it is used to promote the growth of hair. The
roots are used for intermittent fevers in children. The leaves are made into cigarettes and smoked
in cases of chronic bronchitis and asthma.
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