74 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



This species is common and widely distributed in the neighbor- 

 hood of towns in the Philippines. 



Genus SOLAN UM 

 SOLAN UM NIGRUM L. KONTI OR BLACK NIGHTSHADE. 



Local names: Amti (Bontoc) ; bulagtdb (Bisaya) ; kalanga (Misamis) ; 

 kamakamatisan (Tagalog) ; konti (Tagalog) ; lubi-lUbi (Tagalog, Bikol, 

 Bisaya) ; malasile (Samar) ; nateng (Batanes Islands, Benguet) ; onti 

 (Laguna). 



The leaves are official in the French, Mexican, and Spanish 

 Pharmacopoeias. 



Solanum nigrum is an erect, branched, smooth or nearly 

 smooth herb 1 meter or less jn height. The stems are green 

 and somewhat three-angled. The leaves are 5 to 8 centimeters 

 long, pointed at both ends, the margins subentire or undulately 

 toothed or lobed. The corolla is white and about 8 millimeters 

 in diameter. The fruit is a dark purple or black, smooth, 

 rounded berry about 5 millimeters in diameter. 



This species is widely distributed in waste places from north- 

 ern Luzon to southern Mindanao. 



Family BIGNONIACEAE 



Genus SESAMUM 

 SESAMUM ORIENTALE L. (S. indicum DC.) LiNGA OR SESAME. 



A description of this species and its local names are given in 

 bhe section on resins, gums, and oils. 

 The oil is official in many pharmacopoeias. 



Family PLANTAGINACEAE 



Genus PLANTAGO 

 PLANTAGO MAJOR L. PLANTAIN. 



Local names: Lanting (Bontoc, Manila); llanten (Spanish); plantain 

 (English). 



The leaves are official in the Mexican and Spanish Pharma- 

 copoeias. They appear to be of little value. 



Plantago major is a perennial herb the leaves of which occur 

 in a rosette near the ground. They are 5 to 10 centimeters long, 

 about five-nerved, with a petiole often as long as the leaf -blade. 

 The spikes are 6 to 12 centimeters long, erect, slender, and have 

 crowded flowers. The capsules are ovoid and about 3 milli- 

 meters long. 



This species was introduced by the Spaniards and is now 

 naturalized in some localities in Luzon. 



