DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 963 
wild, forming dense matted thickets, under which the deer often make paths impas- 
sable toman. Like the Bengal wild yam described by Roxburgh (mou-aloo), its roots 
are white, and are dug up in the woods during the cool season, for it is not cultivated; 
and as the wild yam of Bengal resembles in habit the cultivated species, [hoscorea 
fasciculata Roxb., so does the gado, or nika cimarron of Guam resemble the culti- 
vated nika. In December the leaves turn yellow, then brown, and then fall off, at 
which time the tubers are ready for digging. These weigh about 2 pounds, and are 
in shape like a sweet potato, but have little fibers growing from them, They are 
more solid and sweeter than cultivated yams. 
As considerable work is necessary to dig the wild yam, the Guam people do not 
eat it when there is enough of other food. The Caroline Islanders, however, who 
until recently have been living on the island of Gruam, and who are in no sense an 
agricultural people, resorted to the forest habitually for it, and often brought it to 
the houses of the Chamorros to exchange for other things. After the severe hurri- 
canes, which sweep the island from time to time, the natives are obliged to resort 
to the woods for food, and are fortunate to find a good reserve of gado, fadang nuts 
(Cyeas cireinalis), Caladium, and Aloeasia. Yams form an important food staple in 
November, after the breadfruit has gone and before the sweet potatoes are ready 
for digging. 
REFERENCES: 
Divscorea. spinosa Roxb.; Wall. Cat. mn. 5103. 1828 (ex Index Kew.), without 
deseription. 
This name appears to be untenable for the above species, but in the present state 
of our knowledge of the genus it is impossible to give the correct name. 
Dioscoreaceae. YAM FAMILY. 
This family is represented only by the genus Dioscorea (which see). 
Diplazium nitidum. Same as Aspleniin vitidum. See Ferns. 
Dischidia bengalensis. Same as Dischidia puberula. 
Dischidia puberula. 
Family Asclepiadaceae. 
A herbaceous plant climbing over the trees of the forest. Leaves ovate, acute, 
short-petioled, opposite, thick, fleshy, glaucous; flowers very small, growing in 
axillary umbels; calyx 5-parted; corolla urceolate, 5-parted, the divisions obtuse, 
pilose; stamens 5, connate, anthers with a membranous tip, pollen masses | in each 
cell, compressed, pendulous coronal processes adnate to stamens, erect, bifid above; 
flowers on ashort peduncle in twos or threes; divisions of staminal crown subreni- 
form at apex. 
This species was described from specimens collected in Guam by Gaudichaud in 
1819. 
REFERENCES: 
Dischidia puberula Deene. in DC, Prod. 8: 651. 1844. 
Distreptus spicatus. Same as Mephontopus spicatus. 
Dodder laurel. See Cassytha filiformis. 
Dodonaea viscosa. SWITCH-SORREL, 
Family Sapindaceae. ‘ 
LocaL NAMES.—Lampuaye (Guam); Alipata (Philippines) ; Lala-yao, Torgo-vao 
(Samoa); Apiri (Tahiti); Aalii (Hawaii); Ake (Rarotunga). 
A shrub or small tree, with numerous erect, twiggy branches, the bark longitudi- 
nally cracked and striate, young parts scurfy-puberulous. Leaves simpie, nearly ses- 
sile, 5 to 9 em. long, linear-lanceolate, very tapering at base, subacute or obtuse, 
entire, the margin often slightly revolute, glabrous, more or less viscid, with a shining 
resinous exudation; flowers small, polygamous or dicecious, on long, slender pedicels, 
