337 
Fam. VERBENACEAE. 
Avicennia oficinals L. Api-Api, Bungalon, Pipisic (Phi- 
lippines); Appi-Appi (Malay). 
_ Tropical and subtropical Africa, tropical and subtropical Asia, 
Australia, Polynesia, New Zealand, Malay Archipelago, Philip- 
pine Islands. The closely related 4vicennia alba Bl. has the 
same range and is scarcely to be distinguished from the above. 
This tree is the pest of the mangrove swamp. It is aggres- 
sive and comparatively worthless Where the swamp has been 
cut over, it comes in very abundantly. It is often found at 
the outer edge of the swamp and may occur many miles up 
a tidal stream; but, it is sure to be in very wet soil. The 
wood is grey with darker heartwood, hard and heavy. Some- 
times used tor firewood and sometimes said to be durable in 
wharves as piling; but, it is usually considered useless, and 
most natives will refuse to use it if they can secure anything 
else. “The white mangrove-bark is astringent and used in tan- 
neries. It yields, in addition to the tannin, a coloring material 
and a large quantity of ash.” (Agric Ledger, 1902, I, p. 48). 
The flowers sometimes have a Cifrus-like odor (described as nar- 
cotic) and contain some oil; but it seems not to be used. The bark 
is used as a tanning agent and the ashes are used to wash cloth. 
_ One of the most difficult problems in the exploitation of the 
swamp is the securing of a suitable use for this tree. 
Fam. RuBracrag. 
Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea Gaertn. Hambubali, Taguisak, Sagasa 
(Phil.); Chingum, Sabasch, Se- 
basah (Malay). 
Ceylon, British India, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, the 
Philippines, New Caledonia. 
A small evergreen glabrous tree or shrub with white flowers. 
It is found usually just back of the Réizophora, in the neigh- 
borhood of Bruguiera and is never very abundant. The leaves 
are somewhat of the same size and appearance as those of Lum- 
