196 A FLORA OF MANILA 
1. P. aculeata L. 
A large scandent shrub, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, the branches 
pendulous, armed with solitary, axillary, recurved spines which are 1 cm 
long or less. Leaves ovate-oblong to elliptic, shining, 6 to 10 cm long, 
obtuse or obscurely acuminate, base acute. Inflorescence axillary and 
terminal, peduncled, of densely flowered corymbose cymes. Flowers 
yellowish-white, the males 4 to 5 mm in diameter. Fruit narrowly oblong 
or clavate, 5-ribbed, 7 to 14 mm long, viscid, the ribs muricate with several 
rows of glands. (FI. Filip. pl. 394.) : 
In thickets, Masambong, fl. Jan._Feb.; widely distributed in the Philip- 
pines. Tropics generally. 
*2. P. ALBA Spanoghe. Coles-maluco; Maluco (Tag.). 
An erect, unarmed, glabrous or nearly glabrous tree reaching a height 
of 10 m. Leaves thin, very pale-green or often nearly white when young, 
oblong-ovate, acuminate, base rounded, 12 to 25 cm long. Cymes terminal, 
dense, corymbose, the male flowers white or greenish-white, about 6 mm 
long, the female ones smaller. Fruit long-pedicelled, club-shaped, 5-angled, 
the angles with one row of prickles. (FI. Filip. pl. 44, Cordia ? olitoria.) 
Frequently cultivated for its ornamental, pale foliage, but rarely or 
never producing flowers in Manila. A native of Malaya, now cultivated in 
India and Ceylon. 
2. BOUGAINVILLEA Commerson 
Climbing spiny vines with alternate leaves. Inflorescence axillary or 
terminal, showy, the flowers inserted below the middle of the large colored 
bracts which are borne in threes. Perianth tubular, slightly curved, the 
lobes 5 or 6, short, spreading. Stamens 7 or 8, equal, included. Ovary 
stipitate, narrowly fusiform. Utricle stipitate, cylindric or clavate. (In 
honor of A. de Bougainville, a French navigator.) 
Species 7, in tropical America, 1 now cultivated in all tropical and 
subtropical countries. 
*1. B. SPECTABILIS Willd. 
A stout, climbing, spiny, slightly pubescent or nearly glabrous woody 
vine, reaching a height of 15 m, with long drooping branches. Leaves 
ovate, 6 to 10 cm long, acuminate, base usually rounded, each axil with a 
stout, slightly curved, sharp spine 5 to 8 mm long. Flowers in the upper 
axils, forming a terminal leafy inflorescence. Cymes peduncled, tricho- 
tomous, the flowers in groups of threes on the ultimate branches, each 
group of flowers subtended by three, large, thin, persistent, colored, oblong- 
ovate, acuminate 2.5 to 4 cm long bracts. Flowers salver-shaped, inserted 
on the midrib of the bracts, the tube slender, about 2 cm long, greenish, 
angled, inflated below, the limb white, 5 to 7 mm in diameter. 
Frequently cultivated, but not spontaneous, fl. Oct—March. A most 
striking ornamental, a native of Brazil, now cultivated in many other 
tropical countries. 
3. MIRABILIS Linnaeus 
Glabrous or glandular herbs, the branches forked. Leaves opposite, the 
lower ones petioled, the upper often sessile. Involucres 1- to many-flowered, 
calyx-like, the 6 lobes imbricate, not enlarged after flowering, usually 
arranged in dense cymes. Perianth-tube elongated, white or colored, 
constricted above the ovary, the limb 5-lobed, petal-like. Stamens 5 or 6, 
unequal in length, exserted. Ovary ellipsoid or ovoid; style filiform, 
