CLEOJIE VISCOSA 31 



It is an herbaceous plant, the root of which is so commonly 

 known that its description would be useless. 



OAPPARIDACE^. 



Caper Family. 



Oleome viscosa, L. (C ieosandra, L.; Polanisia 

 viseosa, DC.) 



NoM. VuLG,. — Bcdabalanoyan, Apoyapoyan, Tag.; Wild 

 Mustard, Eng. 



Uses. — The seeds possess the same properties as those of 

 mustard and are used in place of the latter in Manila. In 

 America the leaves are used as a poultice in otitis, their action 

 being rubefacient. In India the seeds are given internally for 

 their anthelmintic and caripinative effect ; the dose is one tea- 

 spoonful" twice a day. The juice of the leaves mixed with 

 cocoanut oil is used in the form of eardrops in suppurative 

 otitis. f 



The natives give the same common name to the Gynan- 

 dropsis pentaphylla, DC. (Cleome pentaphylla, L.; C. altiacea 

 or C. ailiodora, Blanco), which is distinguished from the former 

 by its six stamens inserted on the pistil and its violet-colored 

 stem. Its therapeutic properties are identical with those of the 

 Gleome viseosa. Dr. Sir W. Jones believes that the plant pos- 

 sesses antispasmodic properties, basing his belief on its odor, 

 which resembles asafetida, though not so disagreeable. In 

 India the juice of the leaves is a popular remedy for earache. 

 It is also -used there as a rubefacient. 



BoTAXiCAL Description. — An annual, the stem channeled 

 and bearing glandular hairs. Leaves compoujid, alternate ; 

 leaflets lanceolate with glandular hairs. Calyx, 4 sepals. Co- 

 rolla, 4 petals, yellow. Stamens 14-16, encircling the pistil. 

 Seed vessels cylindrical,* with channels and glandular hairs. 

 The whole plant is sticky and emits a garlicky odor. 



