56 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 
familiar with the forest vegetation of Eastern Polynesia will be struck 
by the absence from the forests of Gcuam of such genera as Freycinetia, 
Papyrius (Broussonetia), Urticastrum (Laportea), Myristiea, Parinari, 
Bocoa (Inocarpus), Dysoxylum, Nyalelia (Aglaia), Macaranga, Bis- 
chofia, Aleurites, Omalanthus, Spondias, Rhus, Alphitonia, Melochia, 
Kleinhovia, Metrosideros, Maesa, and Diospyros. 
Among the climbing plants and epiphytes of the forest are Zens 
phaseoloides, the scimitar-pod sea bean (Pl. LVI), whose enormous, 
scabbard-like legumes contain lenticular seeds (Pl. XV) sometimes 
used for making snuffboxes; St/zolobiwm giganteum, often called 
‘‘ox-eye” bean; a species of Calamus, with beautiful branching inflo- 
rescence of white flowers; Lués/a teret/folia, an inconspicuous orchid, 
and the minute leafless Zueniophyllum fasciola; Dischidia puberula, 
an interesting asclepiad growing upon trees, with minute urceolate 
flowers and fleshy leaves; bird’s-nest ferns (Veottopteris nidus), perched 
on the branches associated with broad ribbons of Ophioderma pendula, 
tufts of Mephrolepis acuta and N. hirsutula, grass-like Vittaria elon- 
gata, and pendent tassels of Lycopodium phlegmaria (Pl. LVL); 
climbing leathery-fronded Phymatodes phymatodes, lobed like oak 
leaves; Cyclophorus adnascens, with linear-lanceolate fronds; graceful 
Davatlia solida (Pl. W11), with glossy divided fronds, and the interest- 
ing /Iumata heterophylla (P\. LI), which takes its generic name from 
the village of Humatag, or Umata, on the west coast of this island, 
where it was first collected. 
Beneath the shade of the forest trees several undershrubs are 
usually found, including species of Icacorea, Piper, Peperomia, and 
the creeping rubiaceous Carinta herbacea, with small white flowers 
and scarlet berries. On the edges of the woods and by roadsides are 
thickets of the spiny Guilandina crista, bearing the well-known gray, 
stony ‘‘nicker-nuts,” the sharp recurved thorns of its branches cateh- 
ing or scratching every animal which brushes against them (PI. LI). 
Lemoncito thickets (Zriphasia trifolvata) are also common, the bushes 
sprouting from the roots and bearing fragrant, white, jasmine-like 
flowers and scarlet berries resembling miniature oranges. Among the 
succulent plants are wild ginger (Zinziber zeruimbet), turmeric (Cur- 
cuma longa), Canna indica, the Polynesian arrowroot (Zacea pinnati- 
jida), and the introduced Zuetsia terminalis, a liliaceous plant with 
graceful tufts of red leaves. Besides the climbing and epiphytal ferns 
already mentioned there are many others growing on the ground, 
including Belwisia spicata, Dryopteris dissecta, Dryopteris parasitica, 
Asplenium laserpitiifolium, A. nitidum, Microsorium irioides, and sev- 
eral species of Pteris. No filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) have been 
found on the island. The only tree fern of Guam thus far known is 
Alsophila haenket, growing in damp places and often associated with 
Angiopteris evecta. 
