396 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



meters. The leaves are alternate and twice pinnate with some« 

 what rectangular leaflets which are about 1.5 centimeters in 

 length. The flowers are fragrant, white with yellow stamens, 

 about 1.5 centimeters in length, and borne on rather large com- 

 pound flowering shoots. The pods are red, curled, and contain 

 black seeds. 



This species is common and distributed from Luzon to Min- 

 danao. 



Genus PTEROCARPUS 

 PTEROCARPUS spp. (Figs. 2, 3). Narra. 



Local names: Ndga (South Luzon, Bisaya Islands, Palawan) ; ndla (Min- 

 danao and adjacent islands) ; ncira (North and Central Luzon, Mindoro, 

 Masbate). Also: antagdn (Isabela) ; apdlit (Tarlac, Pampanga) ; asand' 

 (Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Tayabas) ; bitali 

 or vitali (Zamboanga) ; di'ingon (Ilocos Norte, Cagayan) ; hagad, sagdt, 

 taggd', taggat, tagkd' (Cagayan); kamdrag (Abra) ; odidu (Pangasinan). 



The wood of these species is used locally as a red dye. Also, 

 an alcoholic tincture prepared from shavings or sawdust is often 

 used for staining light-colored woods a bright red. 



The dye of narra has been examined by Brooks * who called 

 it narrin. He says : 



The dyeing properties of narrin are similar to those of santalin. It 

 is quite insoluble in water, but dissolves readily in alkaline solutions, 

 such as an infusion of wood ashes. Metallic mordants such as chromium 

 and copper hydroxides are the most suitable. The shades produced are 

 not very fast to soap. 



Genus TAMARINDUS 



TAMARINDUS INDICA L. TAMARIND OR SamPALOK. 



A description of this species and its local names are given 

 in the section on food plants. 



The leaves of this tree are employed as a bleaching agent in 

 boiling water.f 



Family EUPHORBIACEAE 



Genus M ALLOT US 

 MALLOTUS PHILIPPENSIS Muell.-Arg. BanAto. 



Local names: Bandto (Cavite, Bataan, Rizal, Benguet, Laguna, Cagayan, 

 Cotabato) ; bandto-maliit (Bataan) ; buds (Ilocos Norte) ; dalunet (Ca- 

 gayan) ; malatuba (Negros Occidental) ; panagisien (Apayao, Cagayan, 



* Brooks, B. T., The natural dyes and coloring matters of the Philip- 

 pines. Philippine Journal of Science, Volume 5, Section A (1910), page 

 448. 



t Miller, H. H., Minier, J. F., Andes, U. S., Muller, T., and Brezina, 

 A., Philippine mats. Philippine Craftsman, Volume 1 (1912), page 159. 



