360 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



flora), the leaves and pods of which must be gathered when young and tender, and, 

 like other green foods, must not be indulged in too freely, owing to their cathartic 

 properties. The chemical composition of several green vegetables, including species 

 of Brassica and Amaranthus, has been published by Mr. Walter C. Blasdale, who 

 shows that the species of Amaranthus analyzed by him contains a much higher 

 percentage of protein than the crucifers.^ 



Several varieties of Amaranthus are cultivated in Bengal, the tender succulent tops 

 of the young stems and branches of which are served as a substitute for asparagus. '' 

 Potamogetonaceae. PONDWEED FAMILY. 



This family is represented in Guam by Potamogeton natans mariannensis, P. zizii, 

 Ruppia maritima, and Holodule uninervis. 



Potamogeton fluitans Gaudich. , not Roth. Same as Potamogeton natans mariannensis. 

 Potamogeton gaudichaudii Cham. & Schlecht. Same as Potamogeton zizii. 

 Potamogeton mariannensis. See Potamogeton natans mariannensis. 

 Potamogeton natans mariannensis. FLOATING PONDWEED. 



Family Potamogetonaceae. 



A submerged water plant with creeping rootstock; upper leaves floating, elliptical, 

 somewhat pointed at each end, 5 cm. long, one-half as broad, many-nerved, long- 

 petioled; petiole flat; nerves conspicuous on both sides, but neither prominent nor 

 sunken; peduncle terete, slender; flower spike cylindrical, slender, with flowers of 

 the size of those of P. oblongus. 



In rivulo aquae dulcis urbem Agana insulae Guajan e Marianis irrigante a cele- 

 berrimo Gaudichaud lectus, ad P. natantis tribum pertinet. (Chamisso & Schlech- 

 tendal, Linnsea, vol. 2, p. 228.) 

 REFERENCES: 



Potamogeton natans mariannensis (Cham. & Schlecht.) Nolte; K. Schu. & Laut. 



Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgebiet. in der Siidsee 162. 1901. 

 Potamogeton mariannensis Cham. & Schlecht. Linnsea 2: 228. 1827. 

 Potamogeton zizii. SHINING PONDWEED. 



A species closely allied to P. lucens and P. mucronatus. Stems slender, branching; 

 floating leaves elliptic, many-nerved; petioles mostly short; submerged leaves mostly 

 lanceolate or oblanceolate, thin, acute or cuspidate; stipules obtuse, 2-keeled; pedun- 

 cles thicker than the stem; fruit obliquely obovoid, the face dorsally 3-keeled; style 

 short, blunt, facial. 



This plant was collected by Gaudichaud in the Agana River. The growth of 

 Potamogeton and other water plants is here so vigorous as to check the flow of the 

 river, and it must be cleaned out periodically. 



In rivulo dulcis aquae urbem Agana in insula Guajan percurrente legit amicissimus 

 Gaudichaud. (Chamisso and Schlechtendal, Linnaea, vol. 2, p. 200, 1827.) 



REFERENCES: 



Potamogeton zizii Koch; Roth, Enum. PI. Germ. 2: 531. 1827. 

 Potat (Philippines). See Barringtonia racemosa. 

 Potato, sweet. See Ipomoea batatas. 

 Potato, white or Irish. See Solanum tuberosum. 



Premna gaudichaudii. FALSE ELDER. 



Family Verbenaceae. 



LOCAL NAMES. Ahgao, Ahgap, Ajgao (Guam); Sauco (Spanish). 

 A shrub or small tree with puberulent young branches and flower panicles. Leaves 



Some Chinese vegetable food materials, U. S. Dept. Agr., Off. Exp. Sta. Bull. 

 No. 68, 18>i9. 



&Firminger, Manual of Gardening for Bengal, ed. 4, p. 151, 1890. 



