BAUHINIA MALABARICA 105 



Citric acid 9.40 



Tartaric acid 1.55 



Malic acid 0.45 



Potassium bitartrate 3.25 



Sugar 12.50 



Gum 4.70 



Vegetable gelatin 6.25 



Parenchyma 34.35 



Water 27.55 



(Yauquelin.) 



At the end of any sickness, especially after labor, the first 

 bath given to the convalescent is with a decoction of the leaves 

 of the "sampaloc," to prevent convulsions, the native herb- 

 doctors say. 



Botanical Description. — A large tree, somewhat re- 

 sembling the elm in contour, with leaves opposite, abruptly 

 pinnate. Leaflets 12 or more pairs, linear, with a notch at the 

 apex, entire, glabrous. Flowers yellow-white, spattered dark 

 red, racemose. Calyx, 4 sepals. Corolla, 5 lanceolate petals 

 with crispate borders. Stamens monadelphous, dividing into 7 

 filaments above. The ripe pod is chocolate color, oblong, 

 slightly compressed, straight or curved, 6-15 centimeters long, 

 full of a light-brown pulp in which rest the seeds enveloped in 

 a cellular membrane. These seeds are flattened, almost quad- 

 rangular ; testa hard, of a chestnut color, shiny and without 

 albumen. 



Habitat.— Very common everywhere in the islands. 

 Blooms in May. 



Bauhinia malabarica, Roxb. (B. tomentosa, Wall, 

 and Blanco.) 

 Nom. Vulg. — Alibagbag, Tag., Vis., Pam. 

 Uses. — The leaves of this tree and of the species B. tomen- 

 tosa, L., are quite acid and the Filipinos use them as an ingre- 

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