66 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



The seeds are official in the German and Swiss Pharmaco- 

 poeias. The powdered seeds are used as a vermifuge. 



Family ARACEAE 



Genus ACORUS 

 ACORUS CALAMUS L. LUBIGAN OR SWEET FLAG. 



A description of this species and its local names are given 

 in the section on resins, gums, and oils. 



The rhizome is official in many pharmacopoeias, and the oil 

 in the German Pharmacopoeia. According to Greenish * the 

 rhizome has stimulant and tonic properties, and has been used 

 for ague and for atonic dyspepsia. 



Family ZINGIBERACEAE 



Genus CURCUMA 

 CURCUMA ZEDOARIA (Berg.) Rose. Barak or Zedoary. 



A description of this species and its local names are given 

 in the section on resins, gums, and oils. 



The rhizome is known as zedoary and is official in the Aus- 

 trian, Croatian, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Russian, 

 Serbian, Spanish, and Swiss Pharmacopoeias and in the Ame- 

 rican National Formulary. 



Family PIPERACEAE 



Genus PIPER 

 PIPER BETLE L. BuYO or Betel Pepper. 



Local names: Biiyo or buyobuyo (Camarines) ; gaued (Lepanto Sub- 

 province) ; ikmo itmo (Tagalog) ; ikmong Iloko (Bulacan) ; letlet or litlit 

 (Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Tayabas) ; savidt (Pampanga). 



The leaves are official in the British Pharmacopoeia. They 

 are extensively used in the Philippines for chewing with the 

 seeds of Areca catechu sprinkled with lime. 



Piper betle is a smooth, climbing vine reaching a height of 

 2 to 4 meters. The upper leaves are 10 to 13 centimeters in 

 length. The apex of the leaf is pointed and the base somewhat 

 inequilaterally rounded or heart shaped. 



This species is extensively cultivated, but is also wild. It is 

 distributed throughout the Philippines. 



* Greenish, H. G., A text book of materia medica, page 453. 



