DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 875 
Sida rhombifolia. BROOMWEED. 
Loca, NAMEs.—Escobilla (Guam, Panama); Esecoba (Spanish Central America); 
Malya de cochino (Cuba); Mautofu (Samoa); Ilima (Hawaii); Burume 
(Tahiti); Silhigon, Escobang-haba, Baseng-biseng (Philippines); Svet-berela 
(India); Kotikan-bévila (Ceylon). 
A half-shrubby weed growing by the roadsides and in open places, having yellow 
flowers which open at about half-past 10 o’clock in the morning and soon fade to a 
whitish color. Branches rough with stellate hairs; leaves 2.5 to 5em, long, rhomboid- 
lanceolate, obtuse at the base, acute, entire below, dentate-serrate above, glabrous 
above, more or less densely stellate-hairy beneath, petioles 6 mm, long, stellate- 
hairy, stipules setaceous, longer than petioles; flowers 2¢m. long, peduncles axillary, 
1-flowered, 1.5 to 4 em. long, stellate-hairy; calyx-segments broadly triangular, very 
acute or apiculate; ripe carpels 8 to LO, with or without beaks. 
This plant varies greatly with its environment, and it may be that forms deseribed 
as distinct species may be nothing more than varieties caused by differences of light, 
moisture, soil, etc. 
It yields a good fiber, which in Australia is known as Queensland hemp, This is 
fine, strong, white, and lustrous, and is easily extracted. It is softer and finer than 
jute, but shorter. Experiments made with this fiber show that a cord 12.5 mm, in 
circumference will sustain a weight of 400 pounds. In Guam fresh plants are gath- 
ered each morning and made into bundies which serve as brooms, 
REFERENCES: 
Sida rhombifolia L. Sp. Pl. 2: 684. 1753. 
Siempre-viva (Spanish). 
Local name for Bryophyllum piimatun, which grows in Guam as a common roadside 
weed, 
Silhigon (Philippines). See Sida rhoimbifolia, 
Silisili (Philippines). See Jasminum marianiwn. 
Silk-cotton tree. See Ceiba pentandra. 
Silk leaf. See Tournefortia argented. 
Sincamas (Philippines). See Cacara erosa. 
Single head. See Nervilia arragoana. 
Sisio (Philippines). See Physalis angulata and P. minima. 
Sitae (Philippines). See Vigna sinensis. 
Soap orange. See Citrus curantiun sapondced, 
Solanaceae. NIGHTSHADE FAMILY. 
This family is represented in Guam by the following species: 
Capsicum annuum.—Doni, Cayenne pepper. 
Capsicum frutescens.— Doni, spur pepper. 
Cestrum nocturnum.—Dama de noche, night-blooming Cestrum. 
Cestrum pallidum.—Tintan China, ‘* Chinese inkberry.”’ 
Datura fastuosa, Purple-flowered thornapple. 
Lycopersicon lycopersicum. —Tomato. 
Nicotiana tabacum.—Chupa, tobacco. 
Physalis angulata.—Tomates de brihuega, ground-cherry. 
Physalis minima.—Tomates de brihuega, ground-cherry. 
Solanum melongena.—Berengenas, eggplant. 
Solanum melongena. EGGPLANT. 
Family Solanaceae. 
LocaL NAMEs.—Berefighenas (Guam); Berengena (Spanish); Talong (Philip- 
pines). 
The eggplant is one of the principal vegetables cultivated in Guam gardens. It 
thrives best in sandy soil. The fruit is large, oval in shape, and purple. A favorite 
method of cooking it is to stuff it with minced meat and bake it. 
REFERENCES: 
Solanwin melongena L. Sp. Pl 1s 186. 1755. 
