316 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



bear, or it may be that pollination is prevented by rains. In Burma the earth 

 around the tree is removed each year and the roots left exposed for a space of two 

 or thi-ee weeks, so as to create a dry season artificially. This is done in November. 

 In December the roots are supplied with manure and covered with new earth. 

 During the month of April, when the fruit is swelling, copious drenchinga of the soil 

 around the stem with water or liquid manure is of great advantage. When con- 

 tinued wet weather prevails during the time of flowering, the flowers are apt to drop 

 off without setting fruit. 



REFEEENCiS: 



Mauffifera indica L. Sp. PI. 1 : 200. 1753. 

 Mangle. 



The Spanish name for mangroves in general. 

 Mangle hembr a (Spanish). See Rhizopkora mucronata. 

 Mangle macho (Spanish). See Bruguiera gymnarhiza. 

 Mango. See Mangifera indica. 

 Mango (Guam). See Curcuma longa. 

 Mango halom-tano (Guam). 



" Wild turmeric," the local name for Canna indica. 

 Mangosteen, wild. See Sandoricum indicum. 

 Mangrove. See Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Bhizophcra mucronata. 

 Mangrove, Milky (Australia). See Excoecaria agallocha. 

 Mangrove, red-flcwered. See Lammdzera liltorea and L. pedieellata, 

 Manha (Guam). 



The vernacular name for an unripe coconut which is full of water, in Spanish 

 called "coco mudo." 

 Mani (Panama). See Arachis hypogaea. 

 Manienfe (Hawaii). See Capriola dactylon. 

 /Manihot manihot. Cassava. Plate xxvi. 



Family Euphorbiaceae. 



Local names. — Mandiuka, Mendiuka, Mandioka, Mendioka, Yuka (Guam); 

 Camoting cahvi, Kamoting kahvi (Tagalog); Yuca (Spanish); Huacamotl 

 (Mexico). 



This plant, which is of tropical American origin, is cultivated by many of the 

 natives of Guam, but it is not of much importance in the economy of their daily life. 

 It grows as a shrub, with knotty stems containing pith, palmately divided, long- 

 petioled leaves without glands, and fleshy tuberous roots (PI. XX VI, p. 145) . In Guam 

 it is not known to flower. It is very easily propagated by cuttings made of the 

 thicker branches, which take root readily and grow with little care. There are two 

 principal varieties recognized, which though not having distinct specific characters 

 are very different in the properties of the root. The first, called " sweet cassava," 

 may be used as a v^etable without special treatment; the second, called "bitter 

 cassava," contains an abundance of prussic acid, which renders the juice very poison- 

 ous, but which is fortunately volatile and is rendered harmless by heat. The roots 

 are gathered at maturity and must be immediately utilized, as they will not keep 

 hke sweet potatoes. 



As the climate of Guam seems well adapted to the cultivation of this plant, and as 

 it is very productive, it would well repay more extensive ciiltivation. The roots 

 yield meal, starch, and cassava, or tapioca. The meal or harina (called " farinha" 

 in Brazil) is made by peeling and grating the root, expressing the juice, drying the 

 pulp, removing the fibrous matter by sifting, and dissipating any vestiges of prussic 

 acid by heating. In preparing meal from sweet ca«sava the root is peeled, sliced or 



