174 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Acapulco (Guam) . 



Vernacular name for Herpetica alaia, a plant introduced into the Philippines and 

 Guam from Mexico. 



Achiote or Achote (Spanish). See Bixa orellana. 

 Achiotl (Mexico). See Bixa orellana. 

 Achras sapota. See Sapota zapoiilla. 

 Acliuete (Philippines). See BLva ordlana. 

 Acliugan (Guam). 



Temacular name for a coarse swamp grass. Only carabaos \\ill eat it. 

 Achyranthes aspera. Pbicely chaff-flower. 



Family Amaranthaceae. 



Local NAMES. — Ghichitun(Guam); Saromo (Philippines); Lautefe-ule( Samoa). 

 A shrubby weed growing to the height of 3 feet, with slender elongated spikes 

 of purplish-green flowers, which are at length reflexed and appressed to the axis; 

 flowers cartilaginous; bracts at first soft, but soon becoming rigid and prickle- 

 like; capsules 5-seeded, reddish; stems downy, inclined to be 4-angled; leaves 

 opposite, ovate or rounded, abruptly attenuate at the base, pubescent. 



A species widely spread throughout the warmer regions of the globe. In Guam 

 it is a troublesome weed; the vernacular name, signifying " tick," is given on account 

 of the property the fruit has of sticking to the clothing. In Samoa it is thought by 

 the natives to have heaUng properties, and is called " cLrcumcision plant." In India 

 the leaves taken fresh and rubbed to a pulp are applied externally to the stings of 

 scorpions. A ^ecoction of them is used as a diuretic, and the seeds are used as a 

 remedy for hydrophobia and snake bit«s. 

 References; 

 Achyranthes aspera L. Sp. PI. 1 : 204. 1753. 

 Acrosticlmin aureum. Marsh fern. Plate rv. 



Family Polypodiaceae. 



Local najies. — Langayao (Guam); Lau sa'ato (Samoa); Lagolo (Philippines). 

 A lai^e, robust, pinnatisect fern growing in marshy places, with smooth, leathery 

 fronds, the upper segments of which bear the sori on the under surface and the 

 lower of which are sterile; veins forming a network; midrib almost excurrent. 



This species is of wide distribution in the Tropics. In Guam it is common in the 

 large marsh near Agana called la Cihiaga. In Fiji its fronds, together with the leaves 

 of Parinari laurhmm, were formerly used for thatching the temples of the aborigines. 

 It occurs in the West Indies and in southern Florida. 

 Refekesces: 

 Acrosticham aureum L. Sp. PI. 1068. 1753. 

 Acrostichum spicatuin. Same as Behrisia spicaia. See Ferns. 

 Adelfa (Spanish). See yeriiim oleander. 

 I^^denantliera pavoniiia. Coral-bean tree. 



Family Mimosaceae. 



Local xambs. — KoWles, Kuliilis (Guam); Bahay, Casay (Philippines); La'au 

 lopd (Samoa); Redwood, Red sandalwood (India). 

 A handsome deciduous tree with spreading branches and bipinnate leaves, bear- 

 ing pods of glossy, scarlet, biconvex seeds. Pinnae 2 to 6 pairs; leaflets 6 to 12 pairs, 

 oval, obtuse, glabrous; flowers in racemes, numerous, small, white and yellow 

 mixed, fragrant; calyx 4 or 5-toothed; stamens 8 to 10; pods linear, somewhat 

 curved, bivalved, 10 to 12-seeded. 



The tree is a native of the East Indies, where the jewelers use the seeds for 

 weights, each weighing almost exactly 4 grains. The heartwood of the larger trees 

 is of a deep red color. It is hard and durable and in India is sometimes used as a 

 substitute for red sandalwood. It yields a dye, which the Brahmins of India use lor 



