196 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



becoming solid ; it is a sort of camphor (C 21) H 1( .6HO, Raybaud) 

 and crystallizes in 4-faced prisms. 



All the plants are used to prepare aromatic baths for cases 

 of atrophy and debility in children (Waitz) and for the treat- 

 ment of rheumatism and paralysis. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. 0. gratissimum is a plant 2-3 

 high, stem straight, downy. Leaves medium lanceolate, finely 

 serrate from the middle upwards, with short hairs and trans- 

 parent dots. Flowers in long terminal racemes. Calyx, 

 upper lip horizontal, round ; lower lip 3 pointed parts, the 

 middle one subdivided in two. Corolla yellowish, inverted, 

 one lip cleft in 4 obtuse lobes ; the other longer, narrow, ser- 

 rate. Stamens didynamous, 2 shorter. Anthers semilunar. 

 Stigma bifid. Seeds 4. 



The 0. Americanum has leaves lanceolate, ovate, acute, full 

 of pores, somewhat downy. It is more fragrant than the other 

 species and its flowers are bluish-white in racemes. 



The 0. sanctum is the most sacred plant of the Hindoos, dedi- 

 cated to Vishnu ; its branches are wavy or cauliflexuous, 

 leaves obliquely ovate, obtuse, serrate, nearly glabrous. 



HABITAT. All species are very common and universally 

 known. 



Coleus aromaticus, Benth. (C. suganda, Blanco.) 



NOM. YULG. Oregano, Sp.-FiL; Suganda, Tag.; Mar- 

 joram, Eng. (The Sp. and Eng. names are incorrect.) 



USES. The fleshy, aromatic leaves of this plant are bruised 

 and applied locally for the bites of centipedes and scorpions. 

 They are also applied to the temples and forehead for head- 

 ache, held in place by a bandage. In Cochin China they are 

 used in^ asthma, chronic bronchitis, epilepsy and other convul- 

 sive diseases. The juice of the leaves is a carminative and is 

 given to children suffering with wind colic. Dr. Wight claims 

 to have observed occasional intoxicating effects following its 



