THESPESIA POPULNEA 47 



The Chinese use the trunk bark as an emmenagogue, calling 

 it Fu-yong-pi. 



Botanical Description. — A small tree about 7° high com- 

 monly called Gumamela in Manila ; the leaves are ovate, acute, 

 with about 5 nerves, serrate from the middle to the apex, hairs 

 growing sparsely on both surfaces, with a small group of dark- 

 colored, deciduous hairs growing on the lower part of the mid- 

 rib. Petioles short with 2 stipules at the base. Calyx double, 

 the outer part divided almost to the base into 6-8 parts ; the 

 inner cylindrical, divided in 5. Corolla large, splendid scarlet- 

 red, often double, on slender peduncles. Styles numerous. 

 Fruit identical with that of the Hibiscus tiliaceus. 



Habitat. — Universally common in the Philippines. 



Thespesia populnea, Corr. 



Nom. Vulg. — Babuy or Bobuy gubat, Tag. ; Bulakan, Vis. 



Uses. — The fruit yields a yellow juice which is used locally 

 in the itch and other cutaneous troubles, after first washing the 

 affected part with a decoction of the roots and leaves. The 

 bark is astringent and is used as a decoction in the treatment 

 of dysentery and hemorrhoids. 



Botanical Description. — A tree of the second order with 

 leaves 4-5' long, sparse, 5-nerved, heart-shaped, broad, acute, 

 entire, glabrous, 6 small glands on the lower face of the base. 

 Petioles of equal length with the leaves. Flowers large, axil- 

 lary, solitary. Calyx double, the outer portion deciduous, con- 

 sisting of 3 small, acute leaflets inserted on the base of the 

 inner calyx ; the inner is bell-shaped, larger than the outer, 

 with 5 inconspicuous, persistent teeth. Corolla four times 

 longer than the calyx, of 5 fleshy, fluted petals, their borders 

 overlapping, much broader above. Stamens very numerous, 

 arranged around and along a column. Filaments long. An- 

 thers of half-moon shape. Style 1, very thick. Stigma cleft 

 in 5 parts, which are twisted in spiral form. Seed vessels 



