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2. Anacyclus pyrethrum DC. Fl. Franc. 5: 480. 1815. (Fig. 121).
Anthemis pyrethrum Linn.—Anacyclus pseudo-pyrethrum Ascherson.
COMPOSITAE
Engl. Pellitory: Sinh Akkrakkara; Akrapatta, Jalapattan, Tarn. Akkirakaram;
Sans. Akarakarabha, Akallaka.'
A perennial herb with numerous spreading, prostrate or ascending branched stems, hairy
in the upper portions, glabrous below; leaves alternate, deeply pinnatisect, segments linear
acute, often again 2-or-3-fid, glabrous or pubescent; flower heads terminal, large, 2.5—
3.5 cm wide with a wide disc; in vomeral scales in several rows, imbricated, ovate-lanceolate,
smooth, pale green, bordered with an edge of brown; receptacle slightly convex with large obovate
rounded transparent scales beneath the flowers; disc-flowers bisexual, corolla tubular, contracted
below with 5, equal, triangular, spreading teeth, yellow; anthers aptculate not tailed at the base,
included in the corolla, style exserted, stigma bifid; ray-flowers female in a single row, corolla
ligulate, trifid at the apex, white above, tinged with bright pink below: fruit dorsatly
compressed, obovoid, more or less denticulate above forming a short scarious pappus
prolonged at the sides.
Illustration. Bentley and Trimen, Medicinal Plants, pi. 151. 1880.
Distribution. Indigenous to North Africa and Algeria in particular It is cultivated
in India but not in Ceylon.
Composition. The roots contain the alkaloids .anacyclin and pellitonnc
Uses. A paste of the root is applied to boils, sores and framboesia, with beneficial results.
The seeds are considered stimulant sialagogue and used in rheumatism. As a masticatory, the
root has been found useful for toothache, aphonia, paralysis of the tongue and muscles of the
throat. It is often employed as a gargle for treatment of tonsils. In Ceylon, it is used as an
important ingredient in decoctions giyen in typhoid fever, convulsions in children, rheumatism,
skin eruptions due to impurities in the blood, bronchial diseases and sexual debility.
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