158 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



ache and to harden relaxed gums. The decoction of the green 

 fruit serves the same purpose and besides is used to wash 

 wounds and ulcers. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A large ornamental tree with 

 leaves alternate, oblong, coriaceous, green. Flowers small, 

 straw-colored, star-shaped, very fragrant. Calyx, 8 sepals. 

 Corolla gamopetalous, 16 oblong, lanceolate divisions. Stamens 

 8, free, short, alternating with 8 petaloid, conical, pubescent 

 staminodia. Ovary free, many ovules. Fruit fleshy, oval, 

 smooth, yellow when ripe, with one or several locules accord- 

 ing to the number of matured seeds. Seeds solitary, oblong, 

 flattened. 



HABITAT. Cultivated in the gardens. 



OLEACE^l. 



Olive Family. 

 Jasminum Sambac, Aiton. (Nychtnthes Sambac, Blanco.) 



NOM. VULG. Sampaga, Tag.; Sampaguitas, Sp.-Fil.; Ara- 

 bian Jasmin, Eng. 



USES. The flower is the most popular and beloved of any 

 in the Philippines (and is commonly referred to as the national 

 flower). In decoction it is used as an eye-wash in catarrhal 

 conjunctivitis. In India the flowers and the leaves have a 

 merited reputation as a lactifuge ; 2 handfuls of flowers bruised 

 and applied without moistening, once or twice a day, sometimes 

 checks the secretion of the milk within 24 hours, but generally 

 2 or 3 days are required for a complete effect. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. Stems scarcely climbing, flat- 

 tened, pubescent. Leaves opposite, cordate base, lanceolate- 

 ovate, entire, glabrous. Flowers in small, close clusters, white, 

 fragrant. Calyx-teeth 8-9, long and awl-shaped. Corolla, 

 long tube, 7-8 rounded lobes. Stamens 2. Style 1 . Stigma 

 cleft in 2 laminae. 



