56 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



familiar with the forest vegetation of Eastern Polynesia will be struck 

 by the absence from the forests of Guam of such genera as Freycinetia, 

 Papyrius (Broussonetia), Urticastrum (Laportca), Myristica, Parinari, 

 Bocoa (Inocarpus), D3\sox3'lum, Nyalelia (Aglaia), Macaranga, Bis- 

 chofia, Aleurites, Omalanthus, Spondias, Rhus, Alphitonia, Melochia, 

 Kleinhovia, Metrosideros, Maesa, and Diospyros. 



Among the climbing plants and ei)iphytes of the forest are Zt'?^s• 

 2)hcuseoloides^ the scimitar-pod sea bean (PI. LVl), whose enormous, 

 scabbard-like legumes contain lenticular seeds (PI. XV) sometimes 

 used for making snuti'boxes; Stisolohium giganteum^ often called 

 "ox-eye" bean; a species of Calamus, with beautiful branching inflo- 

 rescence of white flowers; Luisia teretifolia^ an inconspicuous orchid, 

 and the minute leafless Taeniophyllum fa^ciola; DiscJiidiapuhei'ula^ 

 an interesting asclepiad growing upon trees, with minute urceolate 

 flowers and flesh}" leaves; bird\s-nest ferns {Neottopteris nidus), perched 

 on the branches associated with broad rib})ons of Opldoderma pendula^ 

 tufts of Nephrolepis acuta and N. hirsutula, grass-like Vittaria elon- 

 gata, and pendent tassels of Lycoptodhim ^^/i/6'^;;?.«r/a (PI. LVII); 

 climbing leather3"-fronded Phymatodes pjhymatodes, lobed like oak 

 leaves; Cyclophorus adnascens, with linear-lanceolate fronds; graceful 

 Davallia solida (PI. Ill), with gloss}' divided fronds, and the interest- 

 ing Humata heterophylla (PI. LIII), which takes its generic name from 

 the village of Humatag, or Umata, on the west coast of this island, 

 where it was first collected. 



Beneath the shade of the forest trees several uudershrubs are 

 usually found, including species of Icacorea, Piper, Peperomia, and 

 the creeping rubiaceous Carinta herhacea, with small white flowers 

 and scarlet berries. On the edges of the woods and b}' roadsides are 

 thickets of the spiny Guilandina crista, bearing the well-known gra}^ 

 stonj" "nicker-nuts," the sharp recurved thorns of its branches catch- 

 ing or scratching every animal which brushes against them (PI. LI). 

 Lemoncito thickets {Triphasia trifoliaia) are also common, the bushes 

 sprouting from the roots and bearing fragrant, white, jasmine-like 

 flowers and scarlet berries resembling miniature oranges. Among the 

 succulent plants are wild ginger {Zinsiher semimhet), turmeric {Cur- 

 cwna longa), Canna indica, the Pol^^nesian arrowroot {Tacca pinnati- 

 Jida), and the introduced Taetsia terminalis, a liliaceous plant with 

 graceful tufts of red leaves. Besides the climbing and epiph} tal ferns 

 already mentionea there are manj^ others growing on the ground, 

 including Belvisia spicata, Dryopte^'is dissecta, Dryopteris paralitica,, 

 Aspleniuni laseipitiifoUwn, A. nitidum, Microsoriuni irioides, and sev- 

 eral species of Pteris. No filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) have been 

 found on the island. The only tree fern of Guam thus far known is 

 Alsophila haenkei, growing in damp places and often associated with 

 Angiopteris evecta. 



