ALAGASI

LEUCOSYKE CAPITELLATA (Poir.) Wedd.

Urtica capitellata Poir.

Leucosyke alba Zoll. & Mor.

Missiessya fagifolia Gaudich.

Local names: Alagasi (Bis., Tag.); alangasi (Bis.); amagasi (Bik., Tag.); anagau (Bik.; anugas (Bik.); alalasi (Bon., Ilk.); aragasi (Bik., S. L. Bis.); ararasi (Bon.); arasi (Bon.); bahibahi (P. Bis.); bauaua (S. L. Bis.); bilan0bilan (Sub.); bunkilan (Yak.); damakdios (P. Bis.); gasigasi (Sul.); ginagasi (Tag.); gugutu (Ig.); haganasi (Bik.); hangalasi (Tag.); hilagasi (Tag.); hinagasi (Tag.); hinlagasi (P. Bis.); isis ngipin (Tag.); karikasin (Neg.); lagasi (Tag., C. Bis.); laglag (P. Bis.); lalasi (Ig.); langasi (Bis.); lapsik (Ig.); layasin (tag.); liasin (Tag.); manombila (Buk.); sagombibilan (Mbo.); salagiso (Bik.); salasi (Bon.); tinagasi (Bik.).

Alagasi is found in thickets, second-growth forests, etc., at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines. It is also reported from Formosa to Java and New Guinea.

This plant is an erect shrub or small tree reaching a height of 2 or 4 meters. The leaves are papery, oblong or ovately so, 10 to 15 centimeters long, 3 to 5 centimeters wide, gray or chalky-white, beneath and usually felty, harsh to the touch and green above, pointed at the apex, abruptly and broadly rounded, and 3-nerved at the base. The capitate flowers are on 8-millimeter-long peduncles, either single or few-clustered, 1 centimeter in diameter. The male flowers are white, upon short pedicels. The fruiting heads are dark green and nearly spherical, with compressed achenes.

The bark yields strong bast fibers, which are generally made into ropes.

Medicinally a decoction of the roots is a cure for phthisis, coughs, headache, and gastralgia.