66. Hypecoum procumbens, Linn.

The medicinal plant Hypecoum procumbens is a member of the Fumarioideae / Fumariaceae (bleeding-heart) 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): 1.120.

Habitat:—Drier parts of the Punjab, Peshawar, Multan and the Salt Range.

Botanical description:—A low, annual glaucous herb.

Stems: procumbent, many, 3-12 in., slender. Leaves 2-3-pinnatisect, 2-4 in..

Segments: linear or oblong, upper sessile, whorled.

Flowers: few, 1 in. diam., yellow, pedicelled.

Outer petals: 3-lobed. Inner petals with the lateral segments linear-oblong, obtuse, midlobe entire, retuse or 2-fid, toothed or fimbriate (H. f: . and Th.).

Fruit: 1½-2½ in., ⅙ in. broad, curved, sub-compressed, at length breaking up into 1-seeded joints.

Parts used:—The leaves,

Medicinal uses:—The juice has the same effect as opium. The leaves act as diaphoretic. (Murray).