350 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 
Pharbitis insularis Choisy. Same as [pomoca conqesta. 
Pharbitis nil. Sameas Pharhitis hederacea. 
Phaseolus lunatus inamoenus. LIMA BEAN. 
Family Fabaceae. 
Local NAMrES.—Habas (Spanish); Patani ( Philippines). 
Lima beans will grow in Guam, but ourcommon varieties do not appear to flourish 
here, They should be planted toward the end of the rainy season. In India fresh 
seed is imported annually from America. 
REFERENCES: 
Phaseolus lunatus inamoenus (L. ) 
Phaseolus inamoenus 1. Sp. Pl. 2: ~ 1753, 
Phaseolus macrocarpus Moench, athe 1: 155. 1794, 
Phaseolus mungo. GREEN GRAM. 
Local NAMEs.—Moniggos (Guam); Murggo, Moriggo, Balatong (Philippines); 
Mung (India). 
The most extensively cultivated leguminous plant in Guam. A low suberect 
annual, more or less densely clothed with loose deflexed hairs, leaves 3-foliolate, 
stipellate; leaflets membranous, entire, rarely faintly lobed; stipules ovate; flowers 
in axillary capitate racemes at the end of the peduncles; bracteoles ovate or lanceo- 
late; calyx campanulate; corolla yellow, much exserted; keel prolonged into a com- 
plete spiral; pedicels very short; pod 3.5 to 6 em. long by 4 to 5mm. in diameter, 
clothed with deciduous silky hairs, subeylindrical, slightly recurved; seeds small, 
green. 
In the agricultural statistics of one year I find that in the district of Agafia there 
were planted 131 chupas of monggos (102 pints), and 1,149 gantas (455.3 pecks) were 
gathered, making the yield more than seventyfold.¢ 
This plant is widely distributed in the Tropies. It is extensively cultivated 
many warm countries, especially in the Philippines and on the plains of India. The 
seeds are largely imported into San Francisco, Cal., by the Chinese. In Guam it is 
grown as a rotation crop atter maize. It thrives best apparently on the highland 
during the rainy season. Cattle are very fond of the seeds, stems, and leaves, In 
India and in the Philippines the seeds are ground into flour and used as a substitute 
for soap for washing delicate fabrics. They are wholesome and nutritious and have 
a pleasant taste. They may be eaten as a porridge or parched. The green pods are 
sometimes eaten as a vegetable. An analysis of the seed has been made by W.C. 
Blasdale. ? 
REFERENCES: 
Phaseolus mungo 1. Mant. 1: 101. 1767, 
Phoenix dactylifera. Darr. 
Family Phoenicaceae. 
[ know of only one tree of this species in Guam, It grows in the garden of the 
rectory back of the church of Agafa. As the species is diwcious, of course the tree 
bears no fruit. It is probable that the climate is too moist for the culture of dates, 
though the trees could be propagated without trouble. 
REFERENCES: 
Phoenis dactylifera L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1188. 1753. 
Phoenix sylvestris. WILbp Dare. 
Several specimens of this palm obtained by me from Mr. David Haughs, of the 
“Olive y Garcia, Islas Marianas, App. no. 4, 1887, 
» Blasdale, Some Chinese vegetable food mate rials, ete, U.S. Dept. Agr., Off. Exp. 
Sta., Bull. No. 68, p. 37, L899. 
