CLEOME VISCOSA 31 



It is an herbaceous plant, the root of which is so commonly 

 known that its description would be useless. 



CAPPARIDACEJE. 



Caper Family. 



Cleome viscosa, L. (C icomndra, L.; Polanisia 

 viscosa, DC.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Balabalanoyan, Apoyapoyan, Tag.; Wild 

 Mustard, Eng. 



Uses. — The seeds possess the same properties as those of 

 mustard and are used in place of the latter in Manila. In 

 America the leaves are used as a poultice in otitis, their action 

 being rubefacient. In India the seeds are given internally for 

 their anthelmintic and carminative effect ; the dose is one tea- 

 spoonful twice a day. The juice of the leaves mixed with 

 cocoanut oil is used in the form of eardrops in suppurative 

 otitis. 



The natives give the same common name to the Gynan- 

 dropsis pentaphylla, DC. (Cleome pentaphylla, L.; C. altiacea 

 or C. alliodora, Blanco), which is distinguished from the former 

 by its six stamens inserted on the pistil and its violet-colored 

 stem. Its therapeutic properties are identical with those of the 

 Cleome viscosa. Dr. Sir W, Jones believes that the plant pos- 

 sesses antispasmodic properties, basing his belief on its odor, 

 which resembles asafetida, though not so disagreeable. In 

 India the juice of the leaves is a popular remedy for earache. 

 It is also used there as a rubefacient. 



Botanical Description. — An annual, the stem channeled 

 and bearing glandular hairs. Leaves compound, alternate ; 

 leaflets lanceolate with glandular hairs. Calyx, 4 sepals. Co- 

 rolla, 4 petals, yellow. Stamens 14—16, encircling the pistil. 

 Seed vessels cylindrical, with channels and glandular hairs. 

 The whole plant is sticky and emits a garlicky odor. 



