70. Matthiola incana, R. Br.

The medicinal plant Matthiola incana  is a member of the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae (mustards) family. This page includes its habitat, botanical descption, medicinal uses (eg., Ayurveda), chemical constituents and history of use in modern and ancient India.

Index in Flora of British India (Hooker): 1. 131.

Habitat:—Cultivated in the gardens of N. India.

Vernacular:—Todri safed (Pb. Sind).

Botanical description:—A shrubby, erect, hoary herb. Stem: 1-2 ft.; branched.

Leaves: oblong-lanceolate, entire; rarely obscurely toothed.

Raceme: 1-2 in.

Flowers: in May-June. 1-2 in. diam., purple to violet.

Siliqua: glandular, 2-4 in., ⅕ in. broad. Seed orbicular, winged.

Hooker says that it is the “Queen-Stock” of English gardens where it is treated as an annual or biennial.

Parts used:—The seeds.

Medicinal uses:—The seeds are said to be aphrodisiac (Stewart). The seeds are of three kinds, yellow, red and white; used in infusion in cancer, are expectorant, mixed with wine given as an antidote to poisonous bites (Dr. Emerson).