200 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES. 



principles, the same properties and is given in the same dose as 

 jalap. According to the experience of Shoolbred, Hunter, W. 

 O'Shaughnessy and Ainslie, its purgative action is weak and un- 

 certain and therefore unworthy of use as a substitute for jalap. 

 The bruised leaves are used as poultices to hasten suppuration, 

 but according to Waring they are capable of causing dermatitis. 



Botanical Description. — The flowers open toward the end 

 of the day and close again at sunrise. The root is blackish and 

 spindle-shaped. The stem smooth, branches forked. Leaves 

 opposite, lanceolate-cordate, acute, somewhat downy along the 

 borders and the upper surface. Petioles short. Flowers fra- 

 grant, almost constantly blooming, of different colors even in 

 the same plant, terminal, in umbels. Pedicels very short. 

 Calyx persistent, 5-toothed. Corolla superior, very long, its 

 tube downy, funnel-form, limb 5-lobed. Stamens 5, longer 

 than the corolla. Style longer than the stamens. Stigma glo- 

 bose. Nut small, black, globose, many-ribbed, full of a mealy 

 substance. 



Habitat. — Common in gardens. 



AMARANTHACEiE. 



Amaranth Family. 



Amaranthus spinosus, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Kilitis, Orayi, Tag.; Ayantoto, Pam.; Kali- 

 tis, TiliteSj Bayag-bayag, Vis.; Kuanton, Hoc; Thorny Amar- 

 anth, Eng. 



Uses. — The entire plant is emollient and its principal use is 

 as a poultice for inflammations, bruises, etc. The decoction of 

 the root is diuretic and antiphlogistic and is used in Mauritius 

 (30 grams root to 750 cc. water) as an internal remedy for 

 gonorrhoea ; indeed it is there regarded as a specific for that dis- 

 ease, checking the discharge and the " ardor urinse." It should 

 be continued till the cure is complete. 



