History
Early Sanskrit writers mentioned this plant in their writing. It also finds mention in early Arabian and Persian works.

Habitat
It grows in the sub-tropical western Himalayas at altitudes from 2,500 ft upto5,500 ft.

Morphology Description (Habit)
It is a small herb with reduced stem. It bears 2-3 pairs of opposite, roundly ovate, glabrous, gland-punctate highly folded leaves which are 3-6 inches in dia. The dried leaves have a characteristic spicy odor and appear dusted with reddish coloring matter.

Principal Constituents
Didymocarpene is the chief constituent in the leaves. Two polyterpenes, didymocarpol [(C10H20O)5] and didymocarpenol (C25H42O) have also been isolated from the essential oil1.

Indications
They are used in indigenous medicine as a cure for stones in the kidney and bladder2.

1. Warsi & Siddiqui, J. Indian chem. Soc., 1939, 16, 423.
2. Siddiqui, J. Indian chem. Soc., 1937, 14, 703.