44 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



root it used for the same effect, as a lotion or injection. I 

 have often had occasion to employ this plant and would never 

 use the Philippine mallow in place of it. 



Botanical Description. — A plant 3-4° high, all its parts 

 covered with hairs, simple and tomentose. Leaves heart- 

 shaped, angular, obtuse, unequally serrate, smooth, soft, the 

 lower surface hoary and bearing 9 well-marked nerves. Pet- 

 ioles longer than the leaves, with 2 stipules at the base. 

 Flowers yellow, axillary, solitary. Peduncles long, with a 

 node near the end. Calyx, 5 sepals, as in all the Malvaceae. 

 Corolla, 5 petals with a small notch at the end. Stamens very 

 numerous as well as the styles. Both arise from the summit of 

 a very short column and twist in all directions forming a tassel 

 or tuft. Fruit much higher than the calyx, of 10-20 cells or 

 carpels which are broad, compressed, hairy, the walls united 

 toward the center, each containing 2-3 seeds. 



Habitat. — Common in Luzon, Panay, Mindanao and other 

 islands. Blooms in September. 



Urena sinuata, L. ( U. morifolia and muricata, DC; U. multi- 

 fida, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Kulutan, Kuluthulutan, Molopolo, Tag., Vis., 

 Pam. 



Uses. — The infusion of the root is used internally as an 

 emollient and refrigerant ; externally in skin diseases accom- 

 panied by smarting and inflammation. The boiled and pounded 

 leaves are used as a poultice in inflammation of the intestines 

 and bladder. 



Botanical Description. — A spreading plant 4-6° high, 

 with straight stem, leaves cleft at the base, serrate and hairy; 

 the larger ones have 5-6 lobules which subdivide into smaller 

 ones and bear a small gland in the inferior surface of the mid- 

 rib. Petioles short. Flowers terminal and racemose. Calyx 

 double, composed of 5 narrow sepals externally, and 5 colored 



