194 USEFUL PLANTS (>F GUAM. 



Balanophora sp. 



Family l5alani)i)hf)racoao. 

 A low , tlt'shy, IcaHoss i)arasitic plant of an orange-soarlet color devoid of chloro- 

 pliyll growing; on the roots of oth«'r plants, antl shaped when younijlike an asparagus 

 sprout. The whole plant is waxy and translucent. The flowers are unisexual and 

 are closely crowded together. The male flowers have a regular perianth, hut the 

 female flowers have none. The latter consist of a one-celled ovary having a single 

 ovule and a long style. It resembles a species growing in the Fiji Islands, but the 

 latter is pale yellow instead of reddish-orange. 



Balasbas (Philippines). Pee (IraptnphyUum pictum. 



Balatong ( l'liilip])ines). See I'ltcn^eolHs miuigo. 



Balatong aso (riiilippines). See Cassia occidenialis. 



Baliacag (Visayan). See Dioscorea acnleata and J), xndnt. 



Balibago (Philippines). See Pariti tilinceum; in the Guam vernacular called 

 "pago." 



Balimbing: (Philippines). See Averrhoa caramhola. 

 Baliskug- (Visayan). See Clcrodetidron inerme. 

 Baliti ( Philii)pines) . See i^('c».s sp. 

 Balloon vine. See Otrdiotipertinm halicacabum. 

 Balokbalok (Philippines). See Lobelia koenigii. 

 Balog-Q (Visayan). 8ee Leiis phaseoloides. 

 Balones (Philippines). See Lens 2)haseoloidrs. 

 Balong-g-ai (Visayan). See Moringa vioringa. 

 Balsam, Garden. See Iinpaiiens halsamina. 

 Balsam-pear. See Momordica charantia. 

 Balsamina (Spanish). See Momordica charantln. 

 Balubad (Philippines). See Anacardiam occidoilale. 

 Balung-g-ai (Philippines). See Moringa moriuga. 

 Bamboo. See Bamhos blumeana and Bambos sp. 



Bambos blumeana. Thorny bamboo. 



Family Poaceae. 



Local names. — Piao tituka, Piao lahe ((Tuam): Canayang tinic (Philippines); 

 Cafia espinas, Cana macho (Spanish). 



A handsome bamboo armed with sharp recurved spines, forming impenetrable 

 thickets in moist places, and often attaining the height of 50 feet. Stems growing 

 in clumps; hard, smooth, glossy green when growing, walls thick, nodes not promi- 

 nent; tiowera produced at long intervals, the plants dying after the seeds have 

 matured. 



This plant wa.s introduced from the Philippines. It is much stronger and more 

 durable than the common spineless piao, and is used by the natives in building 

 houses (Plate XX), ranches, and inclosures. Fresh canes stuck in the ground often 

 take root. Large canes cut into lengths of 6 to 8 feet with the septa removed are 

 used as water vessels (see Plate II; young caraliao loaded with bamboo vessels filled 

 with water), and single joints are used as flower pots and for collecting the sap of 

 the coconut, as described under Cocoa nucifera. The stem split into slats about an 

 inch wide is used for making platforms in farmhouses, upon which the natives 

 sleep, and also for inclosures under these platforms for the protection of youn^ 

 chickens from rats, cats, and lizards. 

 References: 

 Bambos blumeana Schult. f. Syst. 7'': 1343. 1830, as Bambusa blumeana. 



