CRINUM ASIATTCUM 231 



Uses. — This plant, though official in several pharmacopoeias, 

 is not used as a medicine in the Philippines, probably on ac- 

 count of its scarcity here. The seeds are used as a condiment; 

 they are stimulant and carminative and yield good results in 

 atonic dyspepsia, nervous depression and spasmodic or flatulent 

 affections of the intestine. The dose of the powdered seeds is 

 from 0.60-1.50 grams in pill form; the tincture is, however, 

 more convenient and is given in doses of from 4 to 8 grams. 



Botanical Description. — A plant with a scaly rhizome 

 and adventitious roots from which spring the stems, some of 

 which bear leaves and others flowers. The leaves are alternate, 

 in pairs; extended, lanceolate blade, with a short petiole. 

 Branches bearing flowers, short, flexible and scaly. The flowers 

 spring from the sheaths of the leaves. Calyx tubular, 3-toothed ; 

 second calyx with limb divided into 3 unequal lobules. Stamens 

 3. Ovary inferior, 3 many-ovuled compartments. Style simple. 

 Stigma rounded. Fruit an oblong, ovoid capsule, 3-celled, 

 trivalvate. Seeds blackish, albuminous. 



Habitat. — Visaya Islands. 



AMARYLLIDACEJE. 



Amaryllis Family. 

 Crinum Asiaticum, L. (C. giganteum, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Bakog, Tag. 



Uses. — The decoction of the leaves is used in the Philippines 

 as an expectorant. The plant is official in the Pharmacopoeia 

 of India as an emetic and in small doses is nauseant and dia- 

 phoretic. As an emetic the dose of the fresh juice of the root 

 is 8-16 grams every 10 minutes till vomiting occurs. Dr. W. 

 O'Shaughnessy, writing from Bengal, states that this is the only 

 indigenous and abundant emetic plant of which he has experi- 

 ence, which acts without producing griping, purging, or other 

 unpleasant symptoms. In a communication to Dr. Waring he 



