ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS 197 



use, but Dymock states that he has never observed such effects. 

 The plant contains a coloring matter, colein (C 10 H 10 O 3 ), red, in- 

 soluble in ether, soluble in alcohol, slightly soluble in water. 

 On the addition of ammonia the solution changes to purple, 

 then violet, indigo, green, and, finally, greenish-yellow. 



Another species, the C. atropurpureus, Benth. (0. grandifo- 

 lius, Blanco), well known in the Philippines by its common 

 name mayana, is used in the treatment of bruises, the bruised 

 fleshy leaves being the part employed ; these leaves are downy 

 and dark violet in color. 



Botanical Description. — Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, 

 cordate, obtuse, downy and very fleshy. Flowers in a quad- 

 rangular raceme, each group of these flowerets having a con- 

 cave scale at the base. Calyx bell-shaped, 2-lipped ; the upper 

 lip longer and entire ; the lower with 4 narrow teeth. Corolla 

 a pale violet, 5 times longer than the calyx. Stamens didyn- 

 amous, straight, longer than the corolla. Style bifid. Seeds 4. 



Habitat. — Universally abundant. 



Rosmarinus officinalis, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Romero, Sp. ; Rosemary, Eng. 



Uses. — This is one of the plants most valued by the Filipi- 

 nos. Its infusion is used as an eye-wash for slight catarrhal 

 conjunctivitis, applied 3 or 4 times a day. It is one of the 

 aromatic plants used so commonly to bathe women in the puer- 

 peral state, and in vapor baths for rheumatism, paralysis and 

 incipient catarrhs. The entire plant is a stimulant and car- 

 minative but little used internally ; in atonic dyspepsia it has 

 given good results taken in the same form as the infusion of 

 manzanilla. 



It contains a large per cent, of an essential oil which gives 

 the plant its agreeable odor. This oil enters into the composi- 

 tion of "Cologne Water "; it is said to arrest falling of the 

 hair and is a diffusible stimulant which may be given internally 



