320 USEFUIi PLANTS OP GUAM. 



Hayagfas (Guam). See Cassytlia JUiformis. 



Medicago sativa. Alfaifa. 



Attempts have been made to introduce alfalfa into Guam, but they have been 

 unsuccessful. See Forage plants, p. 151. 

 Medicinal plants. 



Anacardium occidentalis. — ^An acrid oil is obtained from the pericarp or shell of 

 the cashew nut. It is used in India as a remedy in the ansesthetic variety of lep- 

 rosy, and as a blister in the treatment of warts, corns, and ulcers. By macerating 

 the shell in alcohol an oil is obtained which is a very good remedy for the crack- 

 ing of the skin of the sole of the foot. The kernels of the nut yield a fixed oil. 

 For other uses see name. 



Arachis hypog^aea. — Peanut oil is used as a substitute for olive oil in the prepara- 

 tion of ointments and plasters. 



Artemisia vulg^aris. — Infusion of leaves used in treating ulcers. 



Calophyllvun inophyllnm. — Fresh seed yield a green oil used externally for rheu- 

 matism and for lamps. A resin exudes from the fruit and branches, used in 

 India in treating sore eyes. 



Cassia fistula. — Pulp of the fruit is used as a pui^tive. 



Cassia occidentalis and Cassia sophera. — Paste made of fresh leaves used as a 

 remedy for wounds and ulcers. Ointment made of bruised leaves, sulphur, and 

 ripe seeds a remedy for ringworm and itch. 



Cassia tor a. — Leaves used as an aperient and externally for ringworm and itch. 

 Seeds roasted and made into a decoction resembling coffee. 



Chrysanthemum indicum. — Flowers used for fevers and female complaints. 



Clerodendron inerme. — ^The bittefleaves used in intermittent fevers. 



Clitoria tematea. — Boots and seeds are cathartic. 



Ficus spp. — Juice of banyan trees astringent, used to check the flow of blood. 



Guilandma crista. — Powdered seeds usSl in intermittent fevers and as a tonic. 



Herpetica alata. — ^Leaves used as a remedy for ringworm and for other skin 

 diseases. 



Jatropha curcas. — Seeds purgative. The juice is applied to foul ulcers. 



La-w^sonia inermis. — An ointment made of the leaves is used for wounds, bruises, 

 and ulcers. 



Kangifera indica. — Gum of trunk and branchies mixed with lime juice or oil 

 used in cutaneous diseases. 



Melia azedarach. — Poultices of leaves and bark used in leprosy and scrofulous 

 ulcers. Paste of flowers used to destroy lice and for eruptions of the scalp. 



Ricinus communis. — Purgative. 



Tainarindus indica. — ^l^marinds are used as a remedy and preventive of scurvy. 

 The pulp mixed with water is given to children as a laxative. 



Kedinilla rosea. Medinilla. 



Family Melastomataceae. 

 Local names. — Gkifns (Guam). 



A smooth shrubby plant with round branches, entire 3-nerved leaves growing 

 in whorls of three or four, and axillary cymes of rose-colored, 4-petaled floweia. 

 Leaves obovate-oblong, the 2 lateral nerves near the mara^n; peduncles of the umbel- 

 like flower-clusters bearing at their tips 6 to 8 flowers; pedicels articulate at the base; 

 calyx ventricose-ovate, adnate to the ovary, its limb free, tubular, truncate, entire, 

 persistent; the 4 petals inserted at the margin of the epigynous disk, dolabriforra- 

 ovate, widely spreading, equal; stamens 8, inserted in the same way; filaments fili- 

 form; anthers linear-subulate, subarcuate, bilocular, opening by a terminal pore, 

 bilobate at the base and shortly spurred at the produced connective, the alternate 

 ones (opposite the petals) longer, and more slender; style terete, erect, somewhat 

 cur\edattheapex; stigma simple, obtuse; berry ovate-globose, rose-colored, crowned 

 by the limb of the calyx, 4-celled, cells with many seeds; seeds falcate-eUipsoid, 

 smooth; raphe not excurrent. 



This plant was collected by Gandichaud in Guam and referred to in the narrative 

 of the Freycinet expedition as Melagioma medinillana. It was afterwards made the 



