8. Coptis teeta, Wall.

The medicinal plant Coptis teeta is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) 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. 23.

Vernacular:—Tita (Ass); Mahmira (Sind); Mamira (H.).

Habitat:—Met with in Mishmi mountains, east of Assam, in temperate regions.

Botanical description:—Small stemless herbs.

Rootstock: horizontal, perennial, golden yellow, woody, densely fibrous, very bitter.

Leaves: ternatisect, glabrous,

Petioles: 6-12 in.;

Leaflets: 2-3 in., ovate-lanceolate, pinnatiiid, lobes incised, terminal largest.

Scape: equalling the leaves.

Flowers: 1-3—pedicelled, regular, small, white on slender leafless scapes.

Bracts: leafy.

Sepals: 5-6, ½ in. oblong—lanceolate, acute.

Petals: 5-6, narrow, ligulate, obtuse, ⅔ shorter than the sepals.

Carpels pedicelled, spreading.

Ovules many.

Follicles many-seeded. Seeds with a black crustaceous testa. Mishmi nuts, Bengal.

Part used:—The root.

Medicinal uses:— It is a bitter tonic, useful in fevers and atonic dyspepsia.