104 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Botanical Description. — A shrub, 7-9° high, with a 

 straight, ramose trunk 3-4 r in diameter. Leaves lJ-2° long, 

 opposite, abruptly pinnate, a thick stylet taking the place of the 

 odd leaflet. Leaflets 10-13 pairs, the smaller ones 1-2' long. 

 Common petiole with 2 horizontal stipules at the base. Flow- 

 ers in conspicuous, erect racemes. Calyx, 5 free concave, un- 

 equal sepals. Corolla, 5 petals of a beautiful yellow color. 

 Stamens perigynoue, 10 in number, 3 upper ones very small 

 and frequently sterile, 3 lower very large. The bilocular an- 

 thers open by 2 pores. Ovary many-ovuled with filiform 

 style. Pod long with 2 prominent wings on the sides and 

 many seeds which slightly resemble a cross with blunt ends. 



The C. sophera, L., is characterized by 10 stamens, all fer- 

 tile and a smooth, linear, bivalved pod full of seeds separated 

 by false partitions. The C. tora, L., bears a quadrangular pod 

 about 15 centimeters long by 2 in diameter. 



Habitat. — Grows in all parts of the islands and is univer- 

 sally known by the natives. Blooms in May. 



Tamarindus Indica, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Tamarindo, Sp.; Sampafok, Tag., Pam., Bik.; 

 Sambak, Sumalagi, Kamalagi, Vis.; Tamarind, Eng. 



Uses. — The pulp of the fruit is used to make a sort of sweet 

 preserve and is very popular among the Filipinos. They pre- 

 pare a refreshing drink from the pulp mixed with sweetened 

 water and believing it to be beneficial to the liver, stomach and 

 blood, they use too much of it. Its excessive use is rather 

 prejudicial to the health, but given in moderation it is very effi- 

 cient in allaying the thirst of fever patients. The pulp con- 

 tains weak laxative properties and it is customary to administer 

 it in solution with cream of tartar. Its chemical composition 

 is as follows : 



