208 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OP THE PHILIPPINES 



fleshy, 3-lobed lamina. Perianth wanting. Receptacle dome- 

 shaped. Anthers 4, inserted on the surface of the lamina, 2- 

 valved. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 ovule. Style short. Berry- 

 like fruit, globose, with 1 seed covered by a somewhat brittle 

 membrane. 



Habitat. — La Laguna and other provinces of Luzon. 

 Blooms in September. 



LAURACE.S. 



Laurel Family. 



Cinnamomum pauciflorum, Nees. (Laurus culilaban, Var., 



Blanco.) 



0. tamala, Nees. (L. culilaban, Blanco.) 



NoM. VuLG. (of both). — Kaligag, Mahaligag, Tag., Vis.; 

 Kandaroma, Hoc; Cassia Lignea or Cassia, Eng. 



Uses. — The bark of both species is known in pharmacy as 

 Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon (cassia cinnamon). In- 

 deed it is very like the cinnamon of Ceylon, comes in curled 

 quills, has the same odor and taste though not so delicate ; but 

 it is darker in color, with a surface less clean and smooth. Its 

 chemical composition is identical with that of the latter and 

 nowadays it forms an important article of commerce. 



Cinnamon renders good service in therapeutics as a stim- 

 ulant of the digestive tract and a heart tonic. In the atonic 

 diarrhoeas so common in the Philippines a tincture of cinnamon 

 in doses of 8—10 grams a day, or the powder in cases where 

 alcohol was contraindicated, have given me unhoped-for re- 

 sults. 



In Spain and the Philippines it is very popular as a condi- 

 ment in the kitchen of the confectionery and as a flavor for 

 chocolate ; in fact in those countries it takes the place of 

 vanilla in France. It enters into the composition of several 

 elixirs and compound tinctures, such as " Botot's Water" 



