GUMS 73 



This species is not uncommon in cultivation in the Philippines, 

 and is half wild. 



Family EUPHORBIACEAE 



Genus MACARANGA 

 MACARANGA TANARIUS Muell-Arg. BlNUi?t}A. 



Local names: Alangabun, anabun (Bagobo) ; bagambdng, tna-dsim (Ri- 

 zal) ; biliia (Pampanga) ; biluan, binungan, malabunga, biludn^laldki (Ba- 

 taan) ; bihinga (Tayabas) ; bing-ua (Nueva Vizcaya) ; binunga (Bataan, 

 Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Camarines, Polillo, Mindoro, Guimaras Island, 

 Negros, Palawan); bimiga, lungakan, (Davao) ; gamii, sdmnk (Cagayan) ; 

 ginabang (Benguet) ; labanel (Lepanto) ; lagau (Bisaya) ; lagaon, ligabon 

 (Manobo) ; malabunga (Mindanao) ; minddng (Camarines) ; minunga 

 (Agusan) ; sdmak (Ilocos Norte, Abra, Camiguin Island). 



BINUNGA GUM 



A glue used for fastening together the parts of musical in- 

 struments such as guitars, violins, etc., is obtained from the 

 bark of this tree. The bark is tapped by V-shaped incisions, 

 and the sap collected and used shortly afterwards. It is said 

 that if the sap is allowed to stand until it becomes sticky, it 

 is worthless for the above-mentioned purposes. Heyne * men- 

 tions a similar use in Java. 



Macaranga tanarms is a small tree reaching a height of 4 to 

 8 meters. The leaves are alternate, 10 to 25 centimeters long, 

 shield-shaped, with the petiole attached to the lower surface 

 within the margin. 



This species is very common and widely distributed in open 

 places and second-growth forests throughout the Philippines. 



Family SAPOTACEAE 



Genus ACHRAS 

 ACHRAS S A POT A L. Chico. 



GUM CHICLE 



Gum chicle, which is the principal substance used in the manu- 

 facture of chewing gum, is derived from the bark of this plant. 

 In the Philippines, Achras sapota is extensively grown for its 

 edible fruits known as chicos. No gum chicle is produced locally, 

 although it would seem that it might be a profitable industry. 

 The following short account of gum chicle is taken from the 

 National Standard Dispensatory.f 



Somewhat like Gutta-percha in its general nature is Chicle, or Gum 



* Hejme, K., De Nuttige Planten van Nederlandsch-Indie, Volume 3 

 (1916), page 86. 



t National Standard Dispensatory (1905), page 751. 



