Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

phenyl ethyl alcohol 3–9, eugenol 1, esters
3–5, phenyl acetic acid traces; and
stearoptene 15–30%; citronellol, citral,
farnesol, l-linalool and nonylaldehyde
are also present. (The flowers, unlike
those of Rosa damascena, develop their
perfume when dried.)
The petals also contain fatty oil, sugars
(3–14% as invert), tannin (Rosa tannic
acid 10–24%), cyanin (up to 10%),
cyanidin and quercitrin.
The pollen contains carotene (1.67
mg/100 g), free and bound amino acids
and sugars.
Fresh hips and their pulp contain
545 and 847 mg/100 g vitamin C respectively.
Rosa sericea Lindl.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.
Habitat ◮ The temperate Himalayas
from Chamba eastwards to Bhutan
and Assam at altitudes of 2,500 to
4,200 m.
Folk ◮ Jangali Gulaab. (Flowers—
white or yellow, fruit—red.)
Action ◮ Fruits—rich in vitamin C.
Rosa webbiana Wall.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Dry and inner Himalayas
from Kashmir to Kumaon at
altitudes of 900–4,000 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Laddaakhi-Sevati.
(Flowers— pink or deep red, fruit—
red.)
Rosmarinus officinalis Linn. 557
Action ◮ Fruits—rich in vitamin C
(751 mg/100 g,) concentration up to
8% in dry pulp.
Roscoea procera Wall.
Family ◮ Zingiberaceae.
Habitat ◮ The Himalayas at altitudes
of 1,500–2,100 m, in grassy slopes.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kaakoli, Kshira-Kaakoli.
Action ◮ Tuberous root—revitalizing
tonic, age-sustainer; used in
restorative tonics.
One of the ingredients of the “Eight
Tonic Herbs” (Ashta-varga)ofAyurvedic
medicine.
Rosmarinus officinalis Linn.
Family ◮ Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to the Mediterranean
region, cultivated in Nilgiri
Hills.
English ◮ Rosemary.
Folk ◮ Rusmari.
Action ◮ Essential oil from flowers
and leaves—anti-inflammatory,
astringent, antiseptic, stomachic,
carminative; used externally in
circulatory disorders. Flowering
tops and leaves—carminative,
diuretic, emmenagogue; vapor
baths afford relief in incipient
catarrh, rheumatism and muscular
affections.
Key application ◮ Leaf—internally in
dyspeptic complaints; externally in
R