118 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Dr. Bholanauth Bose recommends the internal use of the 

 juice of the leaves as a remedy for chronic diseases of the 

 spleen ; this treatment, however, has caused severe pain and is 

 absolutely uncertain in eifect. 



In Concan the juice of the leaves is given mixed with food 

 to animals in heat, for its anaphrodisiac action. The fresh or 

 dried plant is given in decoction mixed with ginger in inter- 

 mittent fevers. 



If the ethereal tincture be evaporated a resinous residue 

 remains that has not been studied, but appears to be the vesi- 

 cant principle. This tincture should be made from the dried 

 leaves to avoid hydration of the ether. 



Botanical Description. — A small plant with stem red, 

 straight, quadrate, ramose. Leaves opposite, lanceolate, and 

 fringed with hairs. Flowers axillary, small, red, solitary. 

 Peduncles short. Calyx inferior, bell-shaped, with 8-toothed 

 border, the 4 alternate teeth larger. Corolla none. Nectary 

 bell-shaped, surrounding the ovary, shorter than the calyx, 

 with 4 toothlets which lengthening form the filaments of as 

 many stamens. Anthers 4-celled. Ovary of 4 pluriovulate 

 locules. Style almost wanting. Stigma fluted. Seed vessel 

 glabrous, horizontally dehiscent, containing 15 or more angular 

 seeds joined to a common axis. 



Habitat. — It grows in the marshes of Mandaloyon. 



Lawsonia alba, Lam. (L. spinosa, L.; L. inermis, Eoxb.) 

 Nom. Vulg. — Cinamomo del pais (native cinnamon), Sp.- 

 Fil.; Henna, Camphire, Samphire, Indo-Eng. 



Uses. — This is a very popular plant in the Orient, for many 

 races use its leaves to impart a reddish-yellow stain to the nails, 

 finger tips and palms of the hands. There is a tradition among 

 the Mohammedans that the Prophet once called this plant " the 

 best of all herbs." The leaf in form of a dry powder is sold 

 in the bazars of India under the name of " henna " : mixed 



