218 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



as long as the leaves. Flowers white, terminal in panicles, the 

 pistillate mixed with the more numerous staminate flowers. 

 Staminate : Calyx monophyllous, cylindrical, 2-toothed; corolla, 

 5 linear petals twice as long as the calyx ; stamens 20 or more, 

 joined in a column at their bases. Pistillate : Calyx and corolla 

 as above ; ovary of 2 or 3 uniovulate locules, encircled by a disk ; 

 style 2- or 3-branched. Seed vessel large, ovate, compressed, 

 fleshy, 2 sutures at right angles, 2 compartments, in each a hard 

 nut. 



Habitat. — Grows all over Luzon and is well known to the 

 natives. 



Croton Tiglium, L. (C glandulosum, C. muricatum, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Tuba hamaisa, Tag.; The Purging Croton, 

 Eng. 



Uses. — The fruit is used by the Filipinos to intoxicate the 

 fish in ponds and sluggish streams. The seeds contain an oil 

 that is official in all Pharmacopoeias as one of the most powerful 

 hydragogue cathartics. As it is intensely irritating it should 

 never be administered alone but combined with other substances, 

 such as castor oil, or in pill form. The internal dose is 1 to 2 

 drops. It is considered a specific for lead colic and is indicated 

 when not only purgation but active irritation of the digestive 

 canal is desired. 



Applied to the skin it is a strong irritant causing rapid and 

 painful vesication. Great care should be exercised not to raise 

 the hands to the eyes after touching the oil, as serious inflamma- 

 tion might result. 



Botanical Description. — A small tree, 8-9° high, with 

 rough trunk. Leaves alternate, ovate, acute, minutely serrate, 

 both surfaces beset with sharp hairs. Flowers yellowish-white, 

 monoecious. Staminate : Fewer than the pistillate, growing 

 above them ; calyx 5-toothed ; corolla, 5 woolly petals ; 

 stamens 16, joined in the center. Pistillate : Calyx 5-toothed ; 





