56 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



familiar with the forest vegetation of Eastern Polynesia will be struck 

 by the absence from the forests of Guam of such geuei-a as Freycinetia, 

 Papyrius (Broussonetia), Urticasti-um (Laportea), Myristica. Parinari, 

 Bocoa (Inocarpus), Dysoxylum, Nyalelia (Aglaia), Macaranga, Bis- 

 chofia, Aleurites, Omalanthus, Spondias, Rhus, Alphitonia, Melochia, 

 Kleinhovia, Metrosideros, !Maesa, and Diospyros. 



Among the climbing plants and epiphytes of the forest are Xens 

 phaseohhies, the scimitar-pod sea bean (PI. LVI), whose enormous, 

 scabbard-like legumes contain lenticular seeds (PI. XV) sometimes 

 used for making snuffboxes; Stholohhtm giganteum, often called 

 "ox-eye" bean; a species of Calamus, with beautiful branching inflo- 

 rescence of white flowers; Luisia teretifolia, an inconspicuous orchid, 

 and the minute leafless Taeniophyllum fasdola; Dischidia puhenila, 

 an interesting asclepiad growing upon trees, with minute urceolate 

 flowers and fleshy leaves; bird's-nest ferns {jVeoftaptei'is nidus), perched 

 on the branches associated with broad ribbons of Ophioderma pendida, 

 tufts of Nephrolepis acuta and A^ hirsutula, grass-like Yittaria eJon- 

 gata, and pendent tassels of Lycopodhmi phlegmarla (PI. LVII); 

 climbing leathery -fronded Phymatodes pKymatodts, lobed like oak 

 leaves; Cyclophorxis adnascens, with linear-lanceolate fronds; gi-aceful 

 Davallia solida (PI. Ill), with glossy divided fronds, and the interest- 

 ing Hiimata heteroj)hyll<i (PI. LIII), which takes its generic name from 

 the village of Humatag, or Umata, on the west coast of this island, 

 where it was first collected. 



Beneath the shade of the forest trees several undershrubs are 

 usually found, including species of Icacorea, Piper, Peperomia. and 

 the creeping rubiaceous Cannfa herhacea, with small white flowers 

 and scarlet berries. On the edges of the woods and by roadsides are 

 thickets of the spiny Gxdlandina crista, bearing the well-known gray, 

 stony " nicker-nuts,'' the sharp recurved thorns of its branches catch- 

 ing or scratching every animal which brushes against them (PI. LI). 

 Lemoncito thickets {TripTiasia trifoUaia) are also common, the bushes 

 sprouting from the roots and bearing fragrant, white, jasmine-like 

 flowers and scarlet berries resembling miniature oranges. Among the 

 succulent plants are wild ginger {Zinzihi-r zerumhef), turmeric {Cur- 

 cuma longa), Canna indica, the Polynesian arrowroot {Tacca pinnati- 

 fidd), and the introduced Taetsia teiininalis, a liliaceous plant with 

 graceful tufts of red leaves. Besides the climbing and epiphytal ferns 

 already mentioned there are manj' others growing on the gi-ound 

 including Belvisia spicata, Dryopteris dissecta, Dryopteris para.sitlca, 

 Aspleniwm 1-aserpifiifolhtm, A. nitidum, Microsorium irioides^ and sev- 

 eral species of Pteris. No filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) have been 

 found on the island. The only tree fern of Guam thus far known is 

 AUophila haenltei, growing in damp places and often associated with 

 Angiopteris electa. 



