38 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



and almost spherical, with 4 cells each containing 1 ovule. The 

 fruit, almost spherical, is 2J cm. in diameter, corticate, bearing 

 at its base the persistent calyx ; each of its 4 cells contains a seed. 



Ochrocarpus pentapetalous, Blanco. (Tovomita pentapetala, 



Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Namakpakan, Tagudin, Hoc. (?). 



Uses. — An oil expressed from the fruit is used in Ilocos for 

 illuminating purposes. The flowers are astringent and are used 

 in infusion in cases of diarrhoea. The oil of the fruit is also 

 used locally in rheumatism, tumefactions and other painful con- 

 ditions. In some countries of Malaysia the oil is used in the 

 same way especially in beriberi and the periarticular inflamma- 

 tions incident to puerperium. 



Botanical Description. — Straight trunk about 8 r in diam- 

 eter, with milky sap. Leaves If long, sessile, opposite, ovate, 

 expanded, minutely notched and glabrous, with a small downy 

 swelling at the base, superior and glued to the branch. Flowers 

 terminal, in racemes, with opposite pedicels. Calyx white, of 

 2 rounded leaflets bent downwards. Corolla white, 5 petals 

 (not 4), oval, concave, twice as long as the calyx. Stamens 

 numerous, joined to the receptacle. Filaments slightly longer 

 than the corolla. Anthers oval, 2-celled. Ovary superior, 

 oval. Style longer than the stamens. Stigma peltate, some- 

 times bilobed, sometimes 4-lobed. Fruit about the size of an 

 acorn, oval, fleshy, containing a milky juice ; it is 2-celled and 

 each cell contains a solitary, hard seed ; of these one aborts. 



Habitat. — It grows near the sea. Blooms in December. 



Oalophyllum Inophyllum, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Palo Maria, Sp.-Fil.; Bitanhol, Tamawian, 

 Dankalan, Dinhalin, Tag.; Dankalan Bitaog, Vis., Pam., Bik. 



Uses. — From the seeds of the fruit there exudes a yellowish- 

 green oil, bitter and aromatic. It is used in some districts for 



