144 A FLORA OF MANILA 
*1. A. cepa L. Cebolla (Sp.); Sebuyas (Tag.); Onion. 
Leaves shorter than the scape, cylindric, hollow, 8 mm in Hiniuaeay or 
less, narrowed upward to the slender apex. Scape inflated, usually about 
80 cm high, about 1 cm thick in the middle, narrowed at both ends. Flowers 
very numerous in a dense globose umbel, the pedicels 5 to 7 mm long. 
Perianth-segments oblong, acuminate, 5 to 6 mm long, white or nearly so. 
Filaments longer than the petals. (FI. Filip. pl. 87, A. tricoceum.) 
Cultivated by Chinese gardeners at all seasons for the Manila market. 
Cultivated in all warm countries; a native of Europe. 
*2. A. PoRRUM L. Cuchai (Tag.); Puerro (Sp.); Leek. 
A rank-scented, bulbous, glabrous plant. Leaves fiat, fleshy, 20 cm long 
or more, about 5 mm wide. Scapes very sligthly compressed, slender, solid. 
Umbels many-flowered, 3 to 4 cm in diameter. Flowers white, fragrant, 
about 1 cm in diameter. 
Cultivated by Chinese gardeners for the Manila market, occasionally 
flowering. A native of the Mediterranean Pepin, now cultivated in most 
‘warm countries. 
In addition to the above the garlic (Sp. Ajo; Tag., Vis., Bawang=Allium 
sativum L.) is extensively cultivated in some parts of the Philippines, but 
I have seen no growing specimens in our area. 
4. SANSEVIERIA Thunberg 
Rootstock short, often stoloniferous. Leaves numerous, narrow, erect, 
fleshy, flat, nerveless, often mottled. Scape erect, stout, racemose, the 
flowers in alternate fascicles. Perianth-tube long, slender, the lobes narrow. 
Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth-lobes; anthers dorsifixed. 
Ovary superior, 8-celled; style slender; stigma simple; ovules 1 in each 
cell. Fruit membranaceous, dehiscent. (In honor of R. de Sangro, Prince 
of Sanseviero.) 
Species about 10 in tropical Asia and Africa, a single introduced one in 
the Philippines. 
1. S. ZEYLANICA (L.) Willd. Buntot-tigre (Tag.); Bowstring Hemp. 
Leaves erect, fleshy, flat, acuminate, dark-green mottled with gray, 
glabrous, 0.4 to 1.5 m high, 4 to 7 em wide, base somewhat narrowed. 
Scape erect, up to 80 cm high. Flowers numerous, pale-straw-colored, 
usually tinged with green, 2.5 to 3 cm long, slender, the perianth segments 
nearly twice as long as the tube. (FI. Filip. pl. 422.) 
Frequently cultivated, and occasionally subspontaneous, fl, Dec.—Feb.; 
widely distributed in the Philippines in and about towns. A native of 
tropical Africa, now found in many other tropical countries. 
5. CORDYLINE Commerson 
Erect, simple or sparingly branched shrubs with elongated, alternate, 
petioled, costate, many-nerved leaves somewhat crowded toward the ends 
of the stems. Inflorescence terminal, paniculate, the flowers racemosely 
arranged on the long slender branches. Perianth tubular, 6-cleft, the lobes 
narrow. Stamens 6. Ovary 3-celled, cells, 4- to 16-ovuled. Fruit a usually 
1-seeded berry. (Greek “club.’’) 
Species about 10, Malaya to Australia and Polynesia, 1 in Brazil, a 
single introduced one in the Philippines. 
