190 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



the upper pointed. Stamens 2. Ovary free, 2 biovulate 

 locules. Style simple. Stigma bifid. Seed vessel club-shaped, 

 4 seeds in the upper part. 



Habitat. — Common in the gardens of Manila. 



VERBENACEiE. 



Vervain Family. 



Lippia nodiflora, Rich. (Verbena nodiflora, L.; V. capitata, 



Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Tsatsatsatsahan, Chachachachahan, Tag. 



Uses. — The Filipinos drink an infusion of the leaves in 

 place of tea, the long Tagalog name meaning " resembling 

 tea." In India they drink the hot infusion to aid digestion. 

 In some places the decoction of the leaves is given internally 

 as an emollient and diuretic for gonorrhoea. 



Botanical Description. — A small plant with creeping 

 stem taking root where it touches the ground, obscurely an- 

 gular, covered with short down. Leaves opposite, smooth, 

 clasping the stem, inversely ovate, serrate only above, slightly 

 downy. Flowers white, slightly purplish, axillary on a com- 

 mon peduncle, in a rough conical head. Corolla somewhat 

 bowed, funnel-form, gaping, throat narrow, limb 4-lobed, 

 one lobe shorter than the rest. Stamens 4, 2 longer. Fila- 

 ment almost wanting. Anthers 4, fertile. Ovary superior, 

 style very short. Stigma semi-globose. Fruit, 2 seeds cov- 

 ered by the pellicle of the ovary. 



Habitat. — Very common in the rice fields. 



Tectona grandis, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Teca, Sp.; Tilda, Tag.; Dalondon, Yate, 

 Kalayati, Vis.; Teak Tree, Eng. 



Uses. — The powdered wood made into a paste with water is 

 undoubtedly a useful application in acute dermatitis, especially 



