DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 247 



pubescent; petals 3, two large, orbicular or transversely oblong, clawed, the third 

 smaller, subsessile; stamens 3, hypogynous, filaments slender, naked; anthers oblong, 

 one larger than the others; staminodes 2 or 3, like the stamens, but with deformed 

 cruciform anthers; ovary 3-celled, 2 cells 2-ovuled, one 1-ovuled; capsule 6 mm. 

 long, hidden in the spathe by the decurving of the pedicel after flowering, pyriform, 

 membranous, 5-seeded; seeds oblong, closely pitted. 



Common, growing among grass; flowers bright blue, emerging from the spathe 

 one by one. Widely spread in tropical Asia and Africa. Called in the Philippines 

 by the Spanish name "anagdlide azul." 

 References: 



Commelina benghalensis Li. Sp. PI. 1:41.1753. 

 Commeliua nudiflora. Dewplowek. Dayflower. 



Local names. — Anagdlide azul (Spanish); Aligbangon (Philippines). 



Similar to the preceding, but with the flower spathes ovate or ovate-lanceolate and 

 acute; branches prostrate or subscandent, rooting at the rather distant nodes, tips 

 ascending; leaves 3.5 to 7.5 by 1 to 1.5 cm.; sessile, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute or acuminate, glabrous or puberulous, ciliate, sheath 1 to 2.5 cm. long, loose, 

 glabrous; spathes glabrous or pubescent, base cordate, lobes rounded; cymes 1 to 

 few-flowered, shortly pedicelled; flowers 1 to 1.5 cm. broad; two larger petals orbicular 

 or cordate, third petal smaller subsessile; ovary 3-celled; capsule 6 mm. long, 

 broadly oblong, acuminate, coriaceous, 5-seeded; seeds oblong-cylindric, tubercled 

 and reticulate brown. 



A low weed growing in damp places among the grass; good forage; flowers of a 

 bright cobalt blue. 



B.EFEEENCES: 



Commelina nudiflora L. Sp. PI. 1 : 41. 1753. 

 Compositae. See Asteraceae. 

 Condol or Condor (Guam). 



Local name for the wax gourd, Benincasa cerifera. 

 Condol (Philippines). 



Name applied to several kinds of squash (Cucurbita). 

 Conferva. See under Algse. 

 Convolvulaceae. Morning-glory family. 



Among the Convolvulaceae growing on the island of Guam are the indigenous 

 ' ' alalag ' ' ( Argyreia tUiaefolia) , the lavender-colored flowers of which, called ' ' abubo, ' ' 

 are strung into necklaces by children; Jpomoea chomana, a trailing plant with deeply 

 cordate, denticulate leaves and purple flowers, growing on the strand and reappearing 

 in the uppersabanas; Ipomoea pes-caprae, the "goat's-foot convolvulus," a plant with 

 purple flowers and fleshy leaves notched at the apex growing on sandy beaches; 

 Ipomoea mariannenm, with purple flowers; the "fofgu," with blue flowers, which 

 turn purple in drying {Ipomoea congesta and Pharbitis hederacea), and the white- 

 flowered Operculina peltata. Among the introduced species are several varieties of 

 the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) from Hawaii and from tropical America, and the 

 common cypress vine (Quamoclit quamocUt), called by the natives "angel's hair" 

 (cabello del angel), which has escaped from cultivation and grows in open places. 

 Convolvulus batatas L. Same as Ipomoea batatas. 

 Convolvulus coeruleus Spreng. Same as Pharbitis hederacea. 

 Convolvulus congestus Spreng. Same as Ipomoea congesta. 

 Convolvulus denticulatus Desr. Same as Ipomoea choisiana. 

 Convolvulus hederaceus L. Same as Pharbitis hederacea. 

 Convolvulus marianneusis Gaud. Same as Ipomoea mariannensis. 



