194 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Balanophora sp. 



Family Balanophoraceae. 

 A low, fleshy, leafless parasitic plant of an orange-scarlet color devoid of chloro- 

 phyll growing on the roots of other plants, and shaped when young like an asparagus 

 sprout. The whole plant is waxy and translucent. The flowers are unisexual and 

 are closely crowded together. The male flowers have a regular perianth, but the 

 female flowers have none. The latter consist of a one-celled ovary having a single 

 ovule and a long style. It resembles a species growing in the Fiji Islands, but the 

 latter is pale yellow instead of reddish-orange. 

 Balasbas (Philippines). See Graptoph^llum pictum. 

 Balatong (Philippines). See Flwseolus mungo. 

 Balatong aso (Philippines). See Cassia occidentalis. 

 Balidcag ( Visayan) . See Dioscorea actdeata and D. sativa. 

 Balibago (Philippines). See Pariti iiliaceum; in the Guam vernacular called 



"pago." 

 Balimbingr (Philippines). See Averrhoa caramhola. 

 Baliskug (Visayan). See Clerodendron inerme. 

 Baliti (Philippines) . See Ficus sp. 

 Balloon vine. See Cardiospemum halicacabum. 

 Balokbalok (Philippines). See Lobelia koenigii. 

 Balogro (Visayan). See Letts phaseoloides. 

 Balones (Philippines). See Lens phaseoloides. 

 Balonggai (Visayan). See Moringa moringa. 

 Balsam, Garden. See Impatiens halsaraina. 

 Balsam-pear. See Momordica charantia. 

 Balsamina (Spanish). See Momordica charantia. 

 Balubad (Philippines). See Anacardium occideniale. 

 Balunggai (Philippines). See Moringa morhiya. 

 Bamboo. See Bambos blumeana and Bambos sp. 

 ^^ Bambos blumeana. Thorny b.\mboo. 



Family Poaceae. 



Local names, — Piao tituka, Piao lahe (Guam); Cauayang tinic (Philippines); 

 Gana espinas, Caiia macho (Spanish). 

 A handsome bamboo armed with sharp recurved spines, forming impenetra,ble 

 thickets in moist places, and often attaining the height of 50 feet. Stems growing 

 in clumps; hard, smooth, glossy green when growing, walls thick, nodes not promi- 

 nent; flowers produced at long intervals, the plants dying after the seeds have 

 matured. 



This plant was introduced from the Philippines. It is much stronger and more 

 durable than the common spineless piao, and is used by the natives in building 

 houses (Plate XX), ranches, and inclosures. Fresh canes stuck in the ground often 

 take root. Large canes cut into lengths of 6 to 8 feet with the septa removed are 

 used as water vessels (see Plate II; young carabao loaded with bamboo vessels filled 

 with water), and single joints are used as flower pots and for collecting the sap of 

 the coconut, as described under Cocas nucifera. The stem split into slats about an 

 inch wide is used for making platforms in farmhouses, upon which the natives 

 sleep, and also for inclosures under these platforms for the protection of young- 

 chickens from rats, cats, and lizards. 



References: 

 Bambos blumeana Schult. f. Syst. 7'': 1343. 1830, aa Bambusa blumeana. 



