CANARIUM COMMUNE 73 



Blanco), abilo, Tag., the root of which furnishes a decoction 

 used for phthisis. This species also produces a gum-resin 

 similar to that of the bugo. 



Botanical Description. — A tree, with leaves alternate, 

 odd-pinnate, without stipules, bunched on the ends of the 

 branches, with opposite, serrate leaflets. Flowers yellowish- 

 white in panicles, compound, polygamous. Calyx bell-shaped, 

 5-toothed. Corolla, 5 petals. Stamens 10, free, in 2 series. 

 Ovary inferior, 5-lobuled. Fruit, a globose, greenish-yellow 

 drupe with numerous bony seeds. 



Habitat. — Everywhere in Luzon, Panay and Balabac. 



Canarium commune, L. (C. album and C. Luzonieum, Blanco.) 

 Nom. Yulg. — Pili f Tag.; Java Almond Tree, East Indian 

 Elemi, Eng. 



Uses. — The ripe pili nut is edible and sold in confectioneries. 

 It yields a fixed oil, an excellent sample of which was sent by 

 the Manila pharmacist D. A. del Rosario to the Paris Exposi- 

 tion of 1889. "It is an oil very similar to oil of almond and 

 owing to its physical properties may be used as a substitute for 

 the latter for all the requirements of pharmacy. The only 

 inconvenience connected with its use is the slight one that it 

 solidifies at 3° C. It could furthermore be very advantageously 

 used in the manufacture of fine grades of soap." (D. A. del 

 Rosario.) 



The incised trunk exudes a gum-resin called brea blanca (white 

 pitch) in the Philippines and elemi in Europe. Until recently 

 it was not known in Europe what tree yielded the gum elemi, 

 some authors stating that according to Blanco it was the resin 

 of the Idea abilo, Blanco ( Garuga floribunda, Decsne) ; it is 

 not true, however, that Padre Blanco ever attributed such 

 origin to that product or named his Icica the " pitch-tree." 

 On the contrary in speaking of the Canarium, Blanco states 

 that it yields a resin called " pili-pitch." I do not know the 



