DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 181 



ven' pmall, green, in axillary and terminal panicled slender spikes; bracts usually 

 shorter than the 3 sepals and utricle; stamens 2 or 3; utricle acute, indehiscent. 



This is the species most commonly cultivated in India. The tender succulent 

 tops of the young stems and Jjranches ai"e cooked as a substitute for asparagus. The 

 various forms growing wild in Guam are not much esteemed, but, like asparagus, 

 would doubtless be improved by cultivation. 



Widely spread in the Tropics, growing as a weed in waste places, not cultivuti'd in 

 Guam, but like the preceding species used as a pot herb when young and tender. 

 References: 



Amaranthus viridis L. Sp. PL ed. 2. 2: 1405. 1763. 

 Amargosa (Spanish). See Momordim (■liarantiu. 



Amaryllidaceae. Amaryllis family. 



This family is represented in Guam by the indigenous Crinum asiaticum; by 

 Hypoxis aurea, which grows upon the savannas; and by the introduced tuberose 

 {PoUanthes tuherosa), the pretty pink-flowered Atamosco rosea, and the white spider 

 lily, or "seashore daffodil" {Pinicrathun Uttorale). 



Ambulia fragrans. 



Family Scrophulariaceae. 



Local namess. — Gege, Guegue, Gege sensonyan (Guam). 

 A small, procumbent, very fragrant plant growing in marshy places and stagnant 

 pools near the coast. Leaves sessile, oblong, lanceolate, serrate, with rounded .-^ub- 

 amplexicaul bases; calyx smooth, 5-parted, with lanceolate-subulate segments; struc- 

 ture of the flower similar to the preceding species; corolla scarcely longer than the 

 calyx. 



This plant is much esteemed by the natives for its aromatic fragrance. It is spread 

 among the islands of the Pacific and in the IMalay Archipelago, and occurs in north 

 Australia. Gaudichaud was the first to collect it in Guam. 

 Referexces: 

 Ambulia fragrans (Forst. f.) Drake, Fl. Polyn. Franc. 140. 1802. 

 Ruellia fragrans Forst. f. Prod. 44. 1786. 



Limnophila serrata Gaudich. P>ot. Freyc. Voy. 448. /. S7.f. 2. 1826. 

 Ambulia indica. 



Local names. — Gege, Guegue (Guam); Inata (Philippines). 

 A low, glabrous, aromatic plant growing in swamjis and on the edges of rice fields. 

 The leaves may be either all whorled and pinnatifid, 6 to 19 mm. long, or in wetter 

 places there may be a few emersed opposite entire ones at the top of the stem and 

 numerous multifid ones at its base; flowers axillary, solitary, pedicelled, rarely sub- 

 racemose, the pedicels longer than the calyx ; calyx 5-parted, hemispheric in fruit, the 

 lobes equal, ovate, acuminate, not striate; corolla-tube cylindric, upper lip the outer 

 in the bud, suberect; lower lip spreading, 3-fid; stamens 4, didynamous, included; 

 style defiexed at the tip, stigma shortly 2-lamellate; fruit a capsule, seeds numerous, 

 small, angular, truncate, reticulate. 



This plant is esteemed by the natives for its aromatic odor, which somewhat 

 resem1)les turpentine. It was first collected in Guam by Gaudichaud. It is found 

 in Inilia, the Malay Archipelago, China, Australia, and tropical Africa. 

 References: 

 Ambidia indica (L. ). 

 Hottonia indica L. Syst. ed. 10. 919. 1759. 

 Limnophila gratioloides R. Br. Prod. 442. 1810. 

 Amiga de noclie (Guam). See PoUanthes tuberosa. 

 Amigos (Philippines). See Lycopodium crmuum. 

 Amiray (Philippines). See Boehmeria tenacissima. 



