320 USEB'UL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Mayagas ((Tiiaiii)- See Cassylha filiformis. 



Medicago sativa. Alfalfa. 



Attempts have been made to introduce alfalfa into <iuam, but they have been 

 unsuccessful. See Forage plants, p. 151. 



Medicinal plants. 



Anacardium occidentalis. — An acrid oil is obtained from the pericarp or shell of 

 the cashew nut. It is used in India as a remedy in the anppsthetic variety of lep- 

 rosy, and as a blister in the treatment of warts, corns, and ulcers. By macerating 

 the shell in alcohol an oil is obtained which is a very good remedy for the crack- 

 ing of the skin of the sole of the foot. The kernels of the nut yield a fixed oil. 

 For other uses see name. 



Arachis hypogaea. — Peanut oil is used as a substitute for olive oil in the prepara- 

 tion of ointments and plasters. 



Artemisia vulgaris. — Infusion of leaves used in treating ulcers. 



Calophyllum inophyllum. — Fresh seed yield a green oil used externally for rheu- 

 Tiiatism and f(tr lamps. A resin exudes from the fruit and branches, used in 

 India in treating sore eyes. 



Cassia fistula. — Pulp of the fruit is used as a purgative. 



Cassia occidentalis and Cassia sophera. — Paste made of fresh leaves used as a 

 remedy for wounds and ulcers. Ointment made of bruised leaves, sulphur, and 

 ripe seeds a remedy for ringworm and itch. 



Cassia tora. — Leaves used as an aperient and externally for ringworm and itch. 

 Seeds roasted and made into a decoction resembling coffee. 



Chrysanthemum indicum. — Flowers used for fevers and female complaints. 



Clerodendron inerme. — The bitter«leaves used in intermittent fevers. 



Clitoria ternatea. — Roots and seeds are cathartic. 



Ficus spp. — Juice of banyan trees astringent, used to check the flow of blood. 



Guilandina crista. — Powdered seeds used in intermittent fevers and as a tonic. 



Herpetica alata. — Leaves used as a remedy for ringworm and for other skin 

 diseases. 



Jatropha curcas. — Seeds purgative. The juice is applied to foul ulcers. 



Liawsonia inermis. — An ointment made of the leaves is used for wounds, bruises, 

 and ulcers. 



Mangifera indica. — Gum of trunk and branches mixed with lime juice or oil 

 used in cutaneous diseases. 



Melia azedarach. — Poultices of leaves and bark used in leprosy and scrofulous 

 ulcers. Paste of flowers used to destroy lice and for eruptions of the scalp. 



Ricinus communis. — Purgative. 



Tamarindus indica. — Tamarinds are used as a remedy and preventive of scurvy. 

 The pulp mixed with water is given to children as a laxative. 



Medinilla rosea. Medixilla. 



Family Melastomataceae. 

 Local names. — Gafus (Guam). 



A smooth shrubby plant with round branches, entire 3-nerved leaves growing 

 in whorls of three or four, and axillary cymes of rose-colored, 4-petaled flowers. 

 Leaves obovate-oblong, the 2 lateral nerves near the margin; peduncles of the umbel- 

 like flower-clusters bearing at their tips 6 to 8 flowers; pedicels articulate at the base; 

 calyx ventricose-ovate, adnate to the ovary, its limb free, tubular, truncate, entire, 

 persistent; the 4 petals inserted at the margin of the epigynous disk, dolabriform- 

 ovate, widely spreading, equal; stamens 8. inserted in the same way; filaments fili- 

 form; anthers linear-subulate, subarcuate, bilocular, opening by a terminal pore, 

 bilobate at the liase and shortly spurred at the produced connective, the alternate 

 ones (opposite the petals) longer, and more slender; style terete, erect, somewhat 

 curved at the apex; stigma simple, obtuse ; berry ovate-globose, rose-colored, crowned 

 by the limb of the calyx, 4-celled, cells with many seeds; seeds falcate-ellipsoid, 

 smooth; raphe not excurrent. 



This plant was collected by Gaudichaud in Guam and referred to in the narrative 

 of the Freyciuet expedition as Melastoma medinillana. It was afterwards made the 



