DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 347 



east coast of the island. The strength and durability of the ropes are much increased 

 by tarring. If they are not thus treated and are left un cared for they are soon 

 ruined by attacks of insects. The Caroline Islanders split the inner bark into narrow 

 strips, which they soak and scrape, and wea've into breechcloths or aprons worn by 

 the women. In Tahiti also mats are made of it. The wood is light, durable, and 

 flexible, so that it can be readily bent into any required shape. This renders it 

 suitable for frames of boats, and the lightness of the wood fits it for outriggers of 

 canoes. In Samoa most of the outriggers are of fan wood. 

 REFERENCES: 



Pariti tiliaceum (L.) A. St. Hil. Fl. Bras. Mer. 1: 256. 1825. 

 Hibiscus tiliaceu* L. Sp. PL 2: 694. 1753. 

 Paritium tiliaceum. Same as Pariti tiliaceum. 

 Parmentiera alata Miers. Same as Cresccntia (data. 

 Parra (Spanish). See Vitis. 

 Parsley. See Petroselinum petrosdinum. 



Pasotes (Guam, Philippines). See Chenopodium ambrosioides. 

 Paspalum cartilagineum. Same as Paspalmu scrobiculatum. 

 Paspalum scrobiculatum. Kono MILLET. 



Family Poaceae. 



An erect annual grass, millet-like; leafy, glabrous, rarely hairy; leaves acuminate; 

 ligule short, membranous; peduncle rather slender; spikes 2 to 8, 8 mm. long, 

 alternate, erect or spreading, rachis 2 to 2.5 mm. broad, margins ciliate or serrulate; 

 spikelets in 2, rarely in 3 or 4 rows, imbricate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, 

 sometimes geminate on a common pedicel. 



This grass was first collected in Guam by Haenke. It often grows on the savan- 

 nas associated with Gleichenia dichotoma. It is widely distributed in the warmer 

 regions of the world, and in India is cultivated for food. The grain, however, can 

 not be considered wholesome. Unless special precautions are taken it is apt to act 

 as a narcotic poison, producing delirium and vomiting. Although every part of the 

 grain is poisonous, the husk and testa are especially so, the natives separating the 

 light from the heavy grain by means of water. It is a common article of food with 

 all the poor people of India. They prepare it by macerating it for three or four 

 hours in a watery solution of cow dung, throwing away the scum and chaff which 

 rise to the surface, and spreading out the good grain in the sun to dry. Boiling does 

 not entirely destroy the poison. Cattle and carabaos eat the grass when it is young, 

 but they should not be allowed to feed on it when it is ripening. 

 REFERENCES: 



Paspalum scrobiculatum L. Mant. 1 : 29. 1767. * 



Pasotes (Guam, Philippines). Name of Mexican origin for Chenopodium ambro- 

 sioides. 



Patani (Philippines). See Phaseolm bmatus. 

 Pau-dedo (Guam). 



A shrub with opposite leaves and with flowers having a disgusting fetid odor, 

 growing in terminal and axillary umbels. Not identified. 

 Pea, pigeon. See Cajan cajan. 



Peacock-flower (India, Ceylon). See Poinciana ptdcherrima and Delonix regia. 

 Peanut. See Arachis hypogaea. 

 Peg-a-pollo (Spanish). See Boerhaavia diffusa. 



Watt, Economic Products of India, vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 113, 1892. 



