DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 347 
east coast of the island. The strength and durability of the ropes are much increased 
by tarring. If they are not thus treated and are left uncared for they are soon 
ruined by attacks of insects. The Caroline Islanders split the inner bark into narrow 
strips, which they soak and scrape, and weave into breechcloths or aprons worn by 
the women. In Tahiti also mats are made of it. The wood is light, durable, and 
flexible, so that it can be readily bent into any required shape. This renders it 
suitable for frames of boats, and the lightness of the wood fits it for outriggers of 
canoes. In Samoa most of the outriggers are of fau wood. 
REFERENCES: 
Pariti tiliaceum (L.) A. St. Hil. Fl. Bras. Mer, 1: 256. 1825, 
Hibiscus tiliaceus Li. Sp. Pl. 2: 694. 1753. 
Paritium tiliaceum. Same as Pariti tiliaceum. 
Parmentiera alata Miers. Same as Creseentia alata. 
Parra (Spanish). See Vitis. 
Parsley. See Petroselinum petroselinum. 
Pasotes (Guam, Philippines). See Chenopodinin ambrosioides. 
Paspalum cartilagineum. Sameas Paspalum scrobreulatiun. 
Paspalum scrobiculatum. Kopo MILLET. 
Family Poaceae. 
An erect annual grass, millet-like; leafy, gla rous, rarely hairy; leaves acuminate; 
ligule short, membranous; peduncle rather ; onder; spikes 2 to 8, 8 min. long, 
‘alternate, erect or spreading, rachis 2 to 2.5mm. broad, margins ciliate or serrulate; 
spikelets in 2, rarely in 8 or 4 rows, imbricate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, 
sometimes geminate on a common pedicel. 
This grass was first collected in Guam by Haenke. It often grows on the savan- 
nas associated with Gleichenia dichotoma. It is widely distributed in the warmer 
regions of the world, and in .India is cultivated for food. The grain, however, can 
not be considered wholesome. Unless special precautions are taken it is apt to act 
as a narcotic poison, producing delirium and vomiting. Although every part of the 
grain is poisonous, the husk and testa are especially so, the natives separating the 
light from the heavy grain by means of water. It is a common article of food with 
all the poor people of India. They prepare it by macerating it for three or four 
hours in a watery solution of cow dung, throwing away the scum and chaff which 
rise to the surface, and spreading out the good grain in the sun to dry. Boiling does 
not entirely destroy the poison.@ Cattle and carabaos eat the grass when it is young, 
but they should not be allowed to feed on it when it is ripening. 
REFERENCES: » 
Paspalum scrobiculatum L. Mant. 1: 29. 1767. 
Pasotes (Guam, Philippines). Name of Mexican origin for Chenopodinin ambro- 
sioides. 
Patani (Philippines). See Phaseolus lunatus. 
Pau-dedo (Guam). . 
A shrub with opposite leaves and with flowers having a disgusting fetid odor, 
growing in terminal and axillary umbels. Not identified. 
Pea, pigeon. See Cajun cajan. 
Peacock-flower (India, Ceylon). See Poinciana pulcherrima and Delonic regia. 
Peanut. See Arachis hypogaea. 
Pega-pollo (Spanish). See Boerhaavia diffusa. 
« Watt, Economie Products of India, vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 115, 1892, 
