70 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



an astringent. A sorbet made of the ripe fruit whets the appe- 

 tite and the pulp is used locally for bites of venomous animals. 

 In the latter case the pulverized bark may be used if the fruit 

 cannot be obtained. 



The fruit of Ferona is a substitute for Bael (JEgle Marme- 

 los), and is used as such by the English physicians in the hos- 

 pitals of India. The tender leaves have an agreeable aroma 

 similar to that of anise and are used internally in decoction as 

 a stomachic and carminative. 



The incised trunk exudes a gum which is used in India as a 

 substitute for gum arabic and there is an active trade in this 

 gum in the bazars of Bombay and Calcutta. According to 

 Pereira, it was at one time imported into England from the 

 east of India under the name of gum arabic. It exists in the 

 form of irregular, semitransparent pieces, of a brownish-red 

 color. With water it forms a mucilage as adhesive as gum 

 arabic, and this solution reddens litmus paper. It is dextro- 

 gyrous and is precipitated by the neutral acetate of lead and 

 by caustic baryta. 



Botanical Description. — Tree 3-4 meters high. Leaves 

 fragrant, opposite, odd-pinnate. Leaflets, 2 pairs, lanceolate, 

 entire, and glabrous. Common petiole flattened above. Flow- 

 ers terminal, white, racemose, with 2 flattened peduncles. 

 Calyx inferior, with 5-6 divisions. Corolla, 5-6 petals. An- 

 thers oval. Ovary oblong, 5-lobuled. Style short, caducous. 

 Stigma spindle-shaped. Ovules numerous, compressed, in sev- 

 eral series. Fruit pulpy, globose, with woody rind, one com- 

 partment and many compressed, oblong seeds. 



Habitat. — Mountains of Angat. Woods of Catugan (Iloilo). 





