CASUARINA SUMATRANA 225 



mixed with wine are asexual excitant and " clear out" the womb ; 

 taken with syrup they relieve dyspnoea, pain in the side and 

 inflammation of the lungs and force up the humors from the 

 chest ; it may be mixed with medicines that corrupt the flesh 

 (sic). The grated root drunk with wine relieves painful flatu- 

 lence. I myself (continues the Padre Mercado) have experi- 

 mented with a woman who suffered with painful flatulence and 

 this remedy relieved her." 



We repeat that all the foregoing is copied from the writings 

 of Padre Mercado and we offer it as a therapeutic curiosity. 



P. Blanco states that merely to touch the leaves causes an 

 intolerable itching. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A small tree, 12-15 high, 

 trunk richly branched. Leaves opposite, bunched at the ends 

 of the branches, notched at the base, long, ovate, serrate, hairy 

 on both surfaces. Flowers yellowish-white, dioecious. Stami- 

 nate : In compound racemes ; calyx 4 parts ; corolla none ; 

 stamens 4, inserted on the base of the calyx. Pistillate : 

 Flowers in 2-forked umbel, flat, very large ; calyx, none ; 

 stamens none ; stigma 1 ; seed heart-shaped. 



HABITAT. Very common in all the fields and in the moun- 

 tains. Blooms in June. 



CASUARINEJE. 



Beefwood Family. 

 Casuarina Sumatrana, Jung. (C. equisetifolia, Blanco.) 



NOM. YULG. Ayoho, Tag.; Malabokok, Agoho, Vis.; Aro, 

 Karo, Agoo, Hoc. 



USES. The bark is astringent by virtue of the large quan- 

 tity of tannin it contains. Its principal use is in decoction in 

 the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and haemoptysis ; it is also 

 given in amenorrhoea, though it is apt to increase the pain. 

 Externally it is used as a wash for contusions and ulcers. 

 19 



