HIBISCUS ABELMOSCHUS 45 



sepals internally alternating with the outer ones. Corolla, 5 

 petals. Stamens numerous, inserted about a small column. 

 Styles 10, on the end of the column. Stigmas thick, covered 

 with little spheres. Five united carpels, kidney-shaped, brist- 

 ling with short stiff hairs, containing solitary seeds. 

 Habitat. — Common in all parts of the Archipelago. 



Hibiscus Abelmoschus, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Kastuli, Kastio, Kastiogan, Dalupan, Tag.; 

 Marikum, Dukum, Marukum, Marapoto, Vis.; ' Marsh Mallow, 

 Eng. 



Uses. — The bruised seeds emit an odor of musk, and for 

 this reason the plant has received the name Kastuli, signifying 

 musk in Sanscrit. They possess antispasmodic and stimulant 

 properties, and the infusion is diuretic. Bonastre 2 analyzed 

 Kastuli seeds as follows : 



Water and parenchyma 52.00 



Gum 36.00 



Albumin 5.60 



Fixed oil, resin, crystals and odorous principles 6.40 



Total 100.00 



The fixed oil is greenish-yellow, fluid, but gradually solidi- 

 fying in the air. The crystalline material is white, of an 

 agreeable odor, soluble in ether, where it crystallizes in rays, 

 fusible at 35°. The odorous principle is a bright green, non- 

 volatile liquid of the odor of musk. 



Botanical Description. — A plant 5-6° high, the stem 

 hairy and with few branches. Leaves heart-shaped, cleft at the 

 base, with 5 large pointed lobes, serrate, pubescent. Petioles 

 long with two awl-shaped stipules at the base, and a large vio- 



1 In the U. S. P. and P. G. Marsh Mallow is a synonym for Althcea offi- 

 cinalis, the root being the part of the plant which is used. 



2 Journal de Phar. et de Chim., XX., p. 3811. 



