THESPESIA POPULNEA 47 



The Chinese use the trunk bark as an emmenagogue, calling 

 it Fu-yong-pi. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A small tree about 7 high com- 

 monly called Gumamda in Manila ; the leaves are ovate, acute, 

 with about 5 nerves, serrate from the middle to the apex, hairs 

 growing sparsely on both surfaces, with a small group of dark- 

 colored, deciduous hairs growing on the lower part of the mid- 

 rib. Petioles short with 2 stipules at the base. Calyx double, 

 the outer part divided almost to the base into 6-8 parts ; the 

 inner cylindrical, divided in 5. Corolla large, splendid scarlet- 

 red, often double, on slender peduncles. Styles numerous. 

 Fruit identical with that of the Hibiscus tiliaceus. 



HABITAT. Universally common in the Philippines. 



Thespesia populnea, Corr. 



NOM. VULG. Babuy or Bobuy gubat, Tag. ; Bulakan, Vis. 



USES. The fruit yields a yellow juice which is used locally 

 in the itch and other cutaneous troubles, after first washing the 

 affected part with a decoction of the roots and leaves. The 

 bark is astringent and is used as a decoction in the treatment 

 of dysentery and hemorrhoids. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A tree of the second order with 

 leaves 4-5' long, sparse, 5-nerved, heart-shaped, broad, acute, 

 entire, glabrous, 6 small glands on the lower face of the base. 

 Petioles of equal length with the leaves. Flowers large, axil- 

 lary, solitary. Calyx double, the outer portion deciduous, con- 

 sisting of 3 small, acute leaflets inserted on the base of the 

 inner calyx ; the inner is bell-shaped, larger than the outer, 

 with 5 inconspicuous, persistent teeth. Corolla four times 

 longer than the calyx, of 5 fleshy, fluted petals, their borders 

 overlapping, much broader above. Stamens very numerous, 

 arranged around and along a column. Filaments long. An- 

 thers of half-moon shape. Style 1, very thick. Stigma cleft 

 in 5 parts, which are twisted in spiral form. Seed vessels 



