ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS 185 



is bright yellow, viscid, does not easily become rancid and is 

 used for illuminating purposes in some Philippine provinces. 

 In Japan and among the poor of India it serves as a food ; in 

 the latter country it is also very commonly used as a cosmetic, 

 perfumed with various essences and used to anoint the hair and 

 the body after the bath. In America it is given in place of 

 castor oil in doses of 30—60 grams. In pharmacy it may be 

 properly substituted for olive oil, especially in Linimentum 

 Calcis prepared for burns. 



Botanical Description. — A plant 2-4° high, stem 

 straight, square, grooved. Leaves trifoliate. Leaflets lanceo- 

 late, serrate, slightly downy. Common petiole long ; secondary 

 petiole very short. Flowers pinkish white, in spikes, each 

 flower bearing 2 small glands. Calyx with 2 bracts at the 

 base, top-shaped, monophyllous, 5 lanceolate teeth. Corolla 

 large, 5-lobed, bell-shaped, expanded in the middle where it is 

 spattered with small spots. Stamens didynamous. Anthers long. 

 Ovary downy, quadrangular. Style same length as stamens. 

 Stigma bifid. Seed vessel quadrangular, elongated, 4 opposite 

 grooves, 4 chambers each containing many small ovoid seeds. 



Habitat. — Universal. Blooms in October. 



ACANTHACEiS. 



Acanthus Family. 

 Acanthus ilicifolius, L. 



NoM. VuLQ. — Diliwariw, Dolo-ariw, Tiglog, Lagvwlagiw, 

 Tag.; Titiw, Vis.; Dulawari, Pam. 



Uses. — We are not familiar with the medicinal uses of this 

 plant in the Philippines, but believe that its sole use is in the 

 soap-making industry ; the ash of the plant is rich in soda and 

 potash salts and lye is prepared from it. 



In Goa the leaves, rich in mucilage, are used locally in 

 fomentations for rheumatism and neuralgia. Rheede mentions 

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