Botanical Description.--A plant 3-4° high. Stem quadrangular. Leaves
opposite, broad, lanceolate, serrate, with stiff-pointed teeth and
somewhat scaly beneath. Petioles very short, clasping the stem at
their base, with 2 intermediate stipules ending in two awl-shaped
points. Flowers compound in axillary spikes, which bear the flowerets
in 2 ranks, each flower with a keeled bract. The corolla (if it may
be so called) a 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.
LAURACEÆ.
Laurel Family.
_Cinnamomum pauciflorum_, Nees. (_Laurus culilaban_, Var., Blanco.)
_C. tamala_, Nees. (_L. culilaban_, Blanco.)
Nom. Vulg. (of both).--_Kalingag_, _Makalingag_, Tag., Vis.;
_Kandaroma_, Iloc; _Cassia Lignea_ or _Cassia_, Eng.
Uses.--The bark of both species is known in pharmacy as Chinese
cassia or Chinese cinnamon (cassia cinnamon). Indeed 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 stimulant 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 results.
In Spain and the Philippines it is very popular as a condiment 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" (dentifrice), "Elixir of Garus" (tonic stimulant),
"Balsam of Fioraventi" (external stimulant), laudanum and the elixir
of the Grande Chartreuse (diffusible stimulant).
Lately it has been demonstrated that the essence is a powerful
antiseptic, in the presence of which typhoid fever bacilli cannot
develop.
Botanical Description.--A tree, 15-20° high. Leaves opposite,
lanceolate, 3-nerved, entire, glabrous. Flowers yellow, paniculate,
umbellate. Common peduncles very long, those of the flowerets
long. Calyx none. Corolla, 6 ovate, hairy petals. Stamens 9; 6
external to the rest and bearing the anthers, 4 on each filament,
2 below the others; the 3 inner stamens bear 2 anthers each.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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