368 . USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 
Sago. See Coelococcus amicarum and Cycas circinalis, 
Sagu (Guam). See Marante arundinacea. 
Saguerus gamuto. Same as Saguerus pinnatus. 
Saguerus pinnatus. BLACK-FIBER PALM, 
Family Phoenicaceae. 
Locat NAMEs.—Cabo negro (Guam, Philippines); Gomuto (Malay Archipelago). 
A large palm with unequally pinnatisect leaves and a stout trunk, which is elothed 
above with the fibrous sheaths of dead leaves. Segments of the leaves grouped in 
fascicles of 4 or 5, linear, sword-shaped, 2-lobed, or variously dentate at the apex, 
white or silvery beneath; mid-veins prominent; nerves parallel; margins recurved at 
the base, and one or both of them auricled, the lower auricle the longer; petiole 
plano-convex with spiny margin; sheaths short, reticulate-fibrous, the margin cre- 
nate; spadix large, with short, reflexed peduncle and elongated, slender, pendulous 
branches; spathes numerous, attached to the peduncle, deciduous; bracts and bract- 
lets broad; flowers brownish, fruit a yellowish brown 3-seeded drupe, of the size of 
asmall apple, very acrid. The stem, when young, is entirely covered with sheaths 
of fallen leaves, and black horse-hair like fibers, which issue in great abundance 
from their margins; but as the tree increases in age, these drop off, leaving a colum- 
nar stem or trunk. In the Malay Archipelago the thickest. fibers are used by the 
natives as styles for writing on other palms. The finest fibers are known in Eastern 
commerce as ‘‘gomuto”’ or ‘fejoo”’ fiber, and are much used for making strong cord- 
age, particularly for cables and standing rigging of vessels, whence the name “cabo 
negro,” applied to the tree in the Philippines. They are not pliable enough for 
running rigging or for fine cordage. They need no preparation but spinning or 
twisting. No ropes of vegetable fiber are so imperishable when subjected to 
repeated wetting as those made of cabo negro fiber. At the base of the leaves there 
is a woolly material used in calking ships and stuffing cushions. 
The saccharine sap of this palm in the Malay Archipelago is used for making toddy 
and sugar. This is obtained in great abundance by cutting the spadices of the flowers 
in the same way as those of the coconut palm are cut in Guam for the same purpose. 
(See Cocos nucifera). When fresh the sap is like sweet cider; by fermentation it 
becomes intoxicating, and is then distilled into a rum or brandy resembling the aguar- 
diente of Guam. 
The cabo negro has been introduced into Guam from the Philippines. It grows 
well, but it has been planted in only one or two spots on the island. At Aniguag, a 
village between Agafia and Punta Piti, there is a fine specimen on the inland side of 
the road. 
REFERENCES: 
Saguerus pinnatus Wurmb, Verh. Batav. Gen. 1: 351. 1779. 
Arenga saccharifera Labill. Mem, Inst. Par. 4: 209 1801 (ex Ind. Kew.). 
Saguilalé (Philippines). See Cordyline terminalis and Phyllaurea variegata. 
Saguing (Philippines). See Musa paradisiaca, 
Sagus amicarum. Same as Coelococcus amicarum. 
Sakate (Guam). General name applied to grasses and foreign plants. 
Salai maya (Philippines). ‘‘Sparrows-nest.’’ See Dactyloctenium aeguptiacum. 
Sambag, Sambagui, Sambalagui (Philippines). See Tumarindus indica. 
Sampagas (Philippines). See Jasminum sambac. 
Sampagita (Guam). See Jasminwm sambae. 
Sampalok (Philippines). See Tamarindus indica. 
Sandalwood, false. See Vimenia americana. 
Sandalwood, red. See Adenanthera pavonina. 
