

PANGIUM EDULE 33 



hard, odorless form of rocu and another soft, unctuous, of a deli- 

 cate red color and an odor rendered highly disagreeable by the 

 urine added to it to keep it soft. Rocu is the preparation of 

 achuete that has been subjected to chemical analysis. Its com- 

 position is as follows : Two coloring matters, bixin (C 28 H 34 5 ), 

 of a red color, resinous, soluble in alcohol, ether, alkaline solu- 

 tions and benzine, crystallizing in microscopic laminae, quad- 

 rangular, red, of a metallic violet lustre; orellin, yellow in 

 color, soluble in alcohol and in water. 



Botanical Description. — A well-known tree growing to a 

 height of 5-7 meters, with leaves alternate, simple, oval, heart- 

 shaped at the base, sharply pointed, glabrous, short petioles. 

 Flowers in panicles. Calyx, 5 rounded sepals, tuberculate at the 

 base, imbricated, caducous. Corolla of 5 rose-colored petals. 

 Stamens very numerous, free, inserted on the receptacle. Cap- 

 sule round, dark red, bristling with stout hairs of the same 

 color. The seeds are covered with a fine, yellowish -red powder. 



Pangium edule, Reinw. (Hydonocarpus polyandra, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Pangi, Tag. 



Uses. — All parts of this tree are anthelmintic. The seeds, 

 fruit, leaves and bark all possess narcotic properties dangerous 

 to man and the symptoms following an excessive dose are 

 sleepiness, headache, a sort of intoxication or an attack of de- 

 lirium that may end in death. These narcotic properties have 

 been utilized in Java to stupefy the fish in the rivers by throw- 

 ing the bark in the pools and quiet portions of the stream. The 

 juice of the leaves is used in the treatment of chronic skin 

 diseases. In Amboina the natives eat the seeds, the toxic 

 quality of which is removed by brushing and macerating in 

 pure water for a certain time. After such treatment they may 

 be eaten with impunity and an oil may be extracted from them 

 which is useful as a food. 



Botanical Description. — A tree with leaves 5' long, al- 

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