165 PHILIPPINE RESINS, GUMS, AND OILS 



to remain on the kernels. He concludes by remarking on the ornamental 

 nature and utility of the tree for many other purposes, and recommends 

 that it should be more extensively planted. A sample of the oil thus 

 pi-epared was submitted for examination to Dr. Mouat, who reported as 

 follows: — "I have compared the specimen with a good muster of the or- 

 dinary European almond oil in my possession, and find that in taste, smell, 

 and specific gravity, the former is very similar to the latter, but is deeper 

 in colour, becomes turbid in keeping, and deposits a quantity of white 

 stearic matter. For most ordinary purposes, medicinal and otherwise, the 

 former, I think, might profitably be substituted for the latter in this 

 country, and, if expressed with greater care and freed from every impurity, 

 might become an article of commercial value and importance" {Joum. 

 Agri.-Hort. Soc. Ind., ii.). Though easily made edible and pleasant in 

 flavour, it appears to have been entirely neglected by the Natives, who are 

 ignorant as to its existence. 



Terminalia catappa is a tree reaching a height of 25 meters. 

 The leaves are 10 to 25 centimeters long, smooth, shiny, some- 

 what abruptly pointed at the tip, larger near the tip than near 

 the base, tapering to a narrow, rounded or heart-shaped base. 

 The flowers are small, white, and on axillary spikes 6 to 18 cen- 

 timeters long. 



This species is distributed near the seashore from northern 

 Luzon to southern Mindanao, and is cultivated to some extent 

 in and about Manila and many provincial towns as a shade tree. 



Family SAPOTACEAE 



Genus BASSIA 



BASSIA BETIS (Blanco) Merr. (Figs. 56, 57). Betis. 



Local names: Banitis (Camarines) ; betis (Rizal, Tayabas, Camarines) ; 

 betis-laldki (Tayabas) ; manilig (Moro, Cotabato) ; pdsak (Manila lumber- 

 yards) ; piaiiga (Cagayan, Isabela). 



BETIS OIL 



The fruit of this tree contains an oil used locally as an 

 illuminant. 



Bassia betis is a tree reaching a height of about 30 meters 

 and a diameter of about 1 meter. The leaves are smooth on the 

 upper surface and very hairy below. They are pointed at both 

 ends and about 20 to 25 centimeters in length. The flowers and 

 fruits are borne in rounded clusters. The stalks of the flowers 

 and fruits are about 3 centimeters long. The flower, exclusive 

 of the long style, is about 1.5 centimeters in length. The fruit 

 is somewhat oval, and 3 or 4 centimeters in length. 



This species is distributed from Luzon to Mindanao. 



