220 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



and bronchitis, both of children and adults, Langley has used 

 this plant with good results, and he recommends 1.25-3.50 

 grams of the tincture (100 grams of the fresh plant to 500 of 

 alcohol, 90°) repeated several times a day; the effect is ex- 

 pectorant, nauseant and, in large doses, emetic. 



It must be noted that only the young, growing plants are 

 active. 



The flowers of another species, A. hispida, Burm., called 

 bugos in Tag. and Vis., is used in India for the dysentery. 



Botanical Description. — A little plant, about 3° high. 

 Leaves alternate, broad, lanceolate, 5-nerved, serrate from 

 middle to apex. Petioles much longer than the leaves, 2 

 stipules at their bases. Flowers greenish, monoecious in axil- 

 lary spikes, pedunculate, as long as the leaves, crowned by a 

 prolongation of the axis in the form of a cross. Staminate : 

 Numerous, in upper part of spike ; calyx 4 parts ; no corolla ; 

 stamens 8-1 6, small, free. Pistillate : Less in number, at the 

 base of the spike ; perianth of 3 imbricated leaflets ; ovary, 3 

 uniovulate locules ; style, 3 branches which also subdivide. 

 Capsule 3-celled, each cell containing a globose seed with cica- 

 trix. 



Habitat. — Luzon, Panay and Mindanao. Blooms in 

 October. 



Echinus Philippensis, H. Baillon. ( Croton Philippense, Lamk.; 

 Bottlera tincioria, Roxb.; Mallotus Philippensis, Mull.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Banato,Tag.; Buas,Vuas, Hoc; Monkey-face 

 Tree, Kamela or JTamala Dye, Indo-Eng. 



Uses. — The capsular fruit of this plant is thickly beset with 

 reddish glands and hairs, which, when brushed off and gathered 

 in powder form, constitute the hamala dye of the Hindoos. It 

 was mentioned by the Arabian physicians of the tenth century 

 under the names of Kanbil and Wars. In India the powder 

 is highly valued as a yellow dye-stuff for silk. Medicinally it 





