rO THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



ux astringent. A sorbet made of the ripe fruit whets the appe- 

 ite and the pulp is used locally for bites of venomous animals, 

 [n the latter case the pulverized bark may be used if the fruit 

 jannot be obtained. 



The fruit of Ferona is a substitute for Bael {jEgle Marme- 

 os), and is used as such by the English physicians in the hos- 

 )itals of India. The tender leaves have an agreeable aroma 

 imilar to that of anise and are used internally in decoction as 

 1 stomachic and carminative. 



The incised trunk exudes a gum which is used in India as a 

 ubstitnte for gum arable and there is an active trade in this 

 jum in the bazars of Bombay and Calcutta. According to 

 ^ereira, it was at one time imported into England from the 

 iast of India under the name of gum arable. It exists in the 

 brm of irregular, semi transparent pieces, of a brownish-red 

 olor. With water it forms a mucilage as adhesive as gum 

 irabic, and this solution reddens litmus paper. It is dextro- 

 jyrous and is precipitated by the neutral acetate of lead and 

 )y caustic baryta. 



Botanical Description. — Tree 3-4 meters high. Leaves 

 ragrant, opposite, odd-pinnate. Leaflets, 2 pairs, lanceolate, 

 ntire, and glabrous. Common petiole flattened above. Flow- 

 rs terminal, white, racemose, with 2 flattened peduncles. 

 )alyx inferior, with 5-6 divisions. Corolla, 5-6 petals. An- 

 hers oval. Ovary oblong, 5-lobuled. Style short, caducous, 

 (tigma spindle-shaped. Ovules numerous, compressed, in sev- 

 ral series. Fruit pulpy, globose, with woody rind, one com- 

 lartment and many compressed, oblong seeds. 



PIabitat. — Mountains of Angat. Woods of Catugdn (Iloilo). 



