The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Part 18

Botanical Description.--A large tree, somewhat resembling the elm in contour, with leaves opposite, abruptly pinnate. Leaflets 12 or more pairs, linear, with a notch at the apex, entire, glabrous. Flowers yellow-white, spattered dark red, racemose. Calyx, 4 sepals. Corolla, 5 lanceolate petals with crispate borders. Stamens monadelphous, dividing into 7 filaments above. The ripe pod is chocolate color, oblong, slightly compressed, straight or curved, 6-15 centimeters long, full of a light-brown pulp in which rest the seeds enveloped in a cellular membrane. These seeds are flattened, almost quadrangular; testa hard, of a chestnut color, shiny and without alb.u.men.

Habitat.--Very common everywhere in the islands. Blooms in May.

_Bauhinia malabarica_, Roxb. (_B. tomentosa_, Wall. and Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Alibangbang_, Tag., Vis., Pam.

Uses.--The leaves of this tree and of the species _B. tomentosa_, L., are quite acid and the Filipinos use them as an ingredient of many dishes. The fresh flowers possess anti-dysenteric virtues for which purpose they are given internally in infusion of 10-20 grams of the flowers to one-half liter of water. The decoction of the root bark is a common remedy for liver troubles along the coast of Malabar according to Rheede.

Botanical Description.--A tree 20 high, with leaves alternate, peltate, slightly cordate, orbicular, the apex divided into two large lobules with a stylet between them, glabrous above, somewhat downy beneath; 2 large, flat glandules are situated at the base. Petioles short. Flowers cymose. Peduncle long. Calyx inferior, funnelform, with 4-5 sepals as long as the corolla. Corolla, 5 petals. Stamens 10, 5 alternate ones longer than the others. Stigma thick, peltate, 2 lobules. Pod 1 long, with linear stalk, containing many seeds separated by filamentous isthmuses.

Habitat.--Common everywhere. Blooms in November.

LEGUMINOSae.

Mimosa Division.

_Entada scandens_, Benth. (_E. Pursoetha_, DC. and Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Gogo_, Tag.; _Bayogo_, _Balogo_, _Gohong bakay_, Vis. and Pam.; _Gilla Nuts_, Indo-Eng.

Uses.--The use made of the mashed bark of this tree is well known throughout the Philippines. Cut in strips and beaten thoroughly between stones it is sold under the name of "gogo"; it is macerated in water, to which it imparts a reddish color, and forms a subst.i.tute for soap. The Filipinos use this preparation for bathing, especially the hair, for which purpose there is no more useful or simple preparation. It cures pityriasis, and renders the hair very soft, without drying it too much as is usually the case with soap. The natives use it in treating the itch, washing the affected parts with the maceration and at the same time briskly rubbing them with the bark; in this way they remove the crusts that shield the acari. The treatment is successful in direct proportion to the energy of rubbing.

The seeds of "gogo" are very large, lenticular, flattened, 3-4 centimeters in diameter. Their chemical composition has been studied by Pett.i.t. Alcohol dissolves the active principle, perhaps a glucoside, the study of which the author has not completed. Five centigrams of this substance administered to a guinea-pig causes paralysis of the hind quarters without any apparent inflammation. He also found saponin in the seeds, but it exists in much greater quant.i.ty in the trunk. In the Sunda Islands they eat the seeds roasted and also extract from them an illuminating oil.

The maceration of gogo is emetic and purgative; it is used in the treatment of asthma; it is exceedingly irritating, the slightest quant.i.ty that enters the eye causing severe smarting and a slight conjunctivitis for one or two days.

Botanical Description.--A high climbing shrub with stem as much as 7-8' in diameter. Leaves opposite, twice abruptly pinnate, a stylet replacing the terminal leaflet; 5 pairs of elliptical leaflets, entire, glabrous and notched at the apex. Common petiole with 2 stipules at the base. Flowers in delicate spikes. Calyx obliquely truncate, 5-toothed. Corolla, 5 oval petals much larger than the calyx. Stamens 10-13. Filaments longer than the corolla. Anther with 1-2 white, globose glandules. Pod woody, 4-6 long by "4 fingers" broad, with large notches on the borders, many compartments containing many large, compressed, circular seeds with dark-colored testa, 3-4 centimeters in diameter.

Habitat.--Mountains of Luzon and Panay. Blooms in May.

_Parkia Roxburghii_, G. Don. (_P. brunonis_, Grah.; _P. biglobosa_, Benth.; _Mimosa peregrina_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Kopang_, Tag.

Uses.--The fruit is edible. Its pulp is golden yellow with a sweetish taste and an odor like that of violets.

The roasted seeds are used in certain parts of Africa to make an infusion like coffee, for which reason they have been called "Soudan Coffee."

The pulp was a.n.a.lyzed by Heckel and Schlagdenhauffen in 1887; it contains 60% of its weight of sugar (a mixture of dextrose and levulose), 0.98% of free tartaric and citric acids, fats, alb.u.minoids, etc.

Botanical Description.--A large tree of the first order. Leaves opposite, twice abruptly pinnate. Leaflets small, linear, more than 40 pairs. Princ.i.p.al petiole with one glandule at the base and often another higher up. Calyx long, tubular, with 5 unequal lobules. Corolla, 5 equal petals. Stamens 10, monadelphous. Ovary free, unilocular, multi-ovulate. Pod, 1 1', woody, much compressed, brown, with many seeds embedded in a yellow pulp.

Habitat.--Abounds in the provinces of central Luzon. Blooms in December.

_Acacia Farnesiana_, Willd. (_A. Indica_, Desv.; _Mimosa Farnesiana_, L. and Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--Aroma, Sp.; Ca.s.sie Flower, Eng.

Uses.--The trunk bark is astringent and in decoction is of use in the treatment of prolapsed r.e.c.t.u.m and as an injection for leucorrhoea. A poultice of the tender leaves is applied to ulcers and sores previously washed with the decoction.

The tree exudes an abundant gum very similar to gum arabic which latter is the product of another species of acacia (_A. Arabica_, Willd.). The Manila pharmacist, D. Anacleto del Rosario, sent to the Paris Exposition of 1899 a specimen of this gum obtained on the plantation of D. P. P. Roxas, in Batangas. This specimen differed in no respect from gum arabic and it will surely sooner or later take the place of the latter in the Philippines, both for pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. It would be superfluous to describe here the properties of gum arabic.

Botanical Description.--A small tree 9-12 high, very well known, trunk bristling with long thorns. Leaves twice abruptly pinnate. One or more pairs of leaflets, very small, linear. Common petiole with two thorns united at its base and a small glandule on the upper part. Flowers yellow, aromatic, axillary, joined in a globose head 1/2-3/4' in diameter, consisting of more than 50 minute flowerets. In each axil are 2 peduncles. In some heads all the flowerets are staminate, in others hermaphrodite. The hermaphrodite flowers have a calyx with 5 small teeth. Corolla, 5 petals. Stamens 40 or more. Pistil same length as the stamens. Staminate flowers: calyx, corolla, stamens and anthers as in the hermaphrodite flowers. Pistil none. Pod round, curved, with 8 or more elliptical, compressed seeds.

Habitat.--Grows everywhere, but forms dense thickets in the provinces of La Laguna and Batangas. Blooms in January.

CRa.s.sULACEae.

Orpine Family.

_Kalanchoe laciniata_, DC. (_Cotyledon laciniata_, Roxb.; _Bryophyllum serratum_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Siempreviva_ (_Live-for-ever_), Sp.-Fil.; _Katakataka_, Tag.

Uses.--The fleshy leaves are beaten up and applied to chronic ulcers and sores on which they exert a stimulant action. Applied to the temples they relieve headache. Ainslie testifies to the good effect of its local use in inflammations and as a wash for ulcers. The juice of the leaves is used in Concan in the treatment of bilious diarrhoea and gall stones.

Botanical Description.--A well-known plant, about 2 high, with leaves sessile, opposite, oval, serrately toothed, fleshy. Flowers yellow, in umbels, the stalks reaching a height of 3. Calyx very short, with 4 lanceolate, ac.u.minate sepals, united at the base. Corolla salver-shaped, persistent, with border having 4 small lobules. Stamens 8, fertile. Ovaries 4, free, each with 1 many-ovuled cell. Styles same length as the stamens. Stigmas awl-shaped. Four seed vessels, each with 1 compartment containing many oblong seeds.

Habitat.--Common in all parts of the islands.

COMBRETACEae.

_Terminalia Catappa_, L. (_T. molucana_, Lam.; _T. mauriciana_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Talisay_, Tag.; _Almendro_, Sp.-Fil.; _Talisay_, _Banilak_, _Nato_, _Hitam_, Vis.; _Kalisay_, Pam.; _Lugo_, _Pandan_, Iloc.; _Indian Almond_, Indo-Eng.

Uses.--The kernel is edible and has a very agreeable taste. It yields about 50% of a fixed oil, sweet and savory. If left for some time, it deposits an abundance of stearin. It closely resembles oil of sweet almonds for which it, as well as the oil of Pili (_Canarium commune_, L.), which we have already described, makes a good subst.i.tute.