DESCKIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 875 



Sida rhombifolia. Broomweed. 



Local names. —Escobilla (Guam, Panama) ; Escoba (Spanish Central America); 



Malva de cochino (Cuba); Mautofu (Samoa); Iliina (Hawaii); Burume 



(Taliiti); Silhigon, Escobang-habd, Bdseng-baseng (Philippines); Svet-berela 



(India); Kotikan-bevila (Ceylon). 

 A half-Bhrubby weed growing by the roadsides and in open places, having yellow 

 flowers which open at about half-past 10 o'clock in the morning and soon fade to a 

 whitish color. Branches rough with stellate hairs; leaves 2.5 to 5 cm. long, rhomboid- 

 lanceolate, obtuse at the base, acute, entire below, dentate-serrate above, glabrous 

 above, more' or less densely stellate-hairj^ beneath, petioles 6 mm. long, stellate- 

 hairy, stipules setaceous, longer than jietioles; flowers 2 cm. long, peduncles axillary, 

 l-flowered, Lfi tn 4 cm. long, stellate-hairy; calyx-segments bi'oadly triangular, very 

 acute or aiiiculatc; rijH' carpels S to 10, with or without beaks. 



This i>lant varies greatly with its environment, and it may be that forms described 

 as distinct species may be nothing more than varieties caused by differences of light, 

 moisture, soil, etc. 



It yields a good fiber, which in Australia is known as Queensland hemp. This is 

 fine, strong, white, and lustrous, and is easily extracted. It is softer and finer than 

 jute, l)ut shorter. Experiments made with this fiber show that a cord 12.5 mm. in 

 circumference will sustain a weight of 400 pounds. In Guam fresh plants are gath- 

 ered each morning and made into bundles which serve as brooms. 

 References : 



Sida rhombifolia L. Sp. PI. 2: 684. 1753. 

 Siempre-viva (Spanish). 



Local name for Bryuphylltimpinnatum, which grows in Guam as a common roadside 

 weed. 

 Silhigon (Philippines). See Sida rhumblfolia. 

 Silisili (Philippines). See Jasminum viariammi. 

 Silk-cotton tree. See Criba pentandra. 

 Silk leaf. See lournefortia argentra. 

 Sincamas (Philippines). See Cacara erosa. 

 Single head. See Nervilia arragouna. 



Sisio ( Philippines). See Physalis angidata and P. minima. 

 Sitae (Philipiiines). See Vigaa sinensis. 

 Soap orange. See Citrus aurantium saponacea. 



Solanaceae. Nightshade family. 



This family is represented in Guam by the following species: 

 Capsicum annuum. — Doiii, Cayenne pepper. 

 Capsicum frutescens. — Doni, spur pepper. 



Cestrum nocturnum. — Duma de noche, night-blooming Cestrum. 

 Cestrum pallidum.— Tintan China, "Chinese inkberry." 

 Datura fastuosa, Pui pie-flowered thornaj^ple. 

 Lycopersicon lycopersicum. — Tomato. 

 Nicotiana tabacum. — Chupa, tobacco. 



Physalis angulata. — Tomates de brihuega, ground-cherry. 

 Physalis minima. — Tomates de brihuega, ground-cherry." 

 Solanum melongena. — Berengenas, eggplant. 



Solanum melongena. • Eggplant. 



Family Sulanaceae. 



Local names. — Berenghenas (Guam); Berengena (Spanish); Tillong (Philip- 

 pines). 

 The eggplant is one of the principal vegetables cultivated in Guam gardens. It 

 thrives best in sandy soil. The fruit is large, oval in shajjc, and 2)urple. A favorite 

 method of cooking it is to stuff it with minced meat and bake it. 

 Keferences: 



Sokuutra melon gnia L. Sj*. Pi. 1:1S(1. 175:1 



