DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 183 



shaft 60 to 120 cm. high. On the top of the head, or pineapple, a rosette of stiff 

 leaves is borne. The same stalk does not bear a second time, but a new shoot may 

 arise and bear another. The species is propagated from the suckers or by removing 

 the crown and planting it in sand. This should be done during the rainy season. 

 The adventitious sprouts of the stump of the fruit will also yield a growth of young 

 plants if the stump be planted and kept moist. 



In Guam pineapples of excellent quality are produced. When once established 

 the plants continue to reproduce for years, though frequent replanting and change 

 of soil is recommended. Patches of pineapples are often found growing on the sites 

 of abandoned ranches. The first ripens in May and June. 



The leaf yields a fine silky fiber, which in the Philippine Islands is woven into 

 beautiful gauzy fabrics. In Guam it is twisted by hand and made into the finer 

 kinds 6f cast nets for fishing. Sometimes single fibers are used by the natives in 

 lieu of thread for sewing or for wrapping cigars. 

 References: 

 Ananas ananas (L. ) Karst. Deutsch. Fl. 466. 1880-1883, as Ananassa ananas. 

 Bromelia ananas L. Sp. PI. 1: 285. 1753. 

 Ananas sativus Schult. Syst. 7^: 1283. 1830. 

 Ananassa sativa. Same as Ananas ananas. 

 Anaoso (Samoa). See Ouilandina crista. 

 Andropog^on acicularis. Same as Andropogon acirulatus. 



Andropogon aciculatus. Awned beakdgkass. 



Family Poaceae. 



Local names. — Amores secos (Philippines, Guam); Piipii (Hawaii). 

 A grass with spikelets occurring in pairs, at each node of a jointed hairy rachis, one 

 sessile and perfect, the other with a pedicel; stem creeping and branching below, 

 leaves short, sheaths terete, panicle very narrow, callus very long, acicular. 



Collected in Guam by Gaudichaud. Common on the island and furnishing good 

 pasture, but disagreeable on account of its adherent awns. It is widely spread in 

 •Polynesia, Australia, India, and China. In the Philippines the straw is used for 

 making hats and mats. 

 References : 

 Andropogon aciculatus Retz. Obs. 5: 22. 1789. 

 Andropog^cn diloridiformis. Same as Dimeria chloridiformis. 

 Andropogon nardus. Lemon-grass. 



Local names. — Junquillo oloroso (Spanish); Tanglad (Philippines). 

 A fragrant, lemon-scented grass, said to have been introduced into Guam from the 

 Caroline Islands. In Guam the natives plant it near their houses, where it grows in 

 tufts to the height of 90 to 120 cm. 



It yields an essential oil, which is used in perfumery, and is known as "oil of 

 verbena" or "citronella." It is also applied externally as a stimulant in rheumatic 

 affections. In India a sort of tea is made of the fresh young leaves, and the white 

 center of the succulent stems is used to impart a' flavor to curries. The grass is too 

 coarse to be eaten by cattle except when young. 

 References: 

 Andropogon nardus L. Sp. PI. 3 : 1046. 1753. 

 Angilao (Guam). See Gremia muUiflora. 



Ang^iopteris evecta. Giant fekn. Plate xxxii. 



Family Marattiaceae. 

 Local names. — Nase, Fa'angdse (Samoa). 

 A fern-like plant with enormous fronds and a fleshy stem 1 to 2 meters high, growing 

 in damp situations. It is distinguished by having the sporangia inclosed in capsules. 



