DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 351 



Honolulu Botanical Gardens, were planted iii Guam, and were thriving at the time of 

 my departure from the island. 

 References: 

 Phoenix mjlvestrls (L. ) Roxb. Hort. Beng. 73. 1814 (ex Ind. Kew.); Fl. Ind. 



3: 787.1832. 

 Elate sylvestris L. Sp. PI. 2: 1189. 1753. 

 Phragmites communis. Same as JHchoon jihragmites. See under Trichoon 



roxhurghii. 

 Fhrag^mites karka Trin. Same as Trichoon roxhurghii. 

 Fhrag^mites phrag^mites. See under Trichoon roxhurghii. 

 Fhragmites roxburghii. Same as Trichoon roxburghU. 

 Phyllanthus gaudichaudii. Same as Olochidion marianmn. 



Phyllantlius marianus. • Phyllantbus. 



Family Euphorbiaceae. 

 A shrub with leaves arranged in two vertical rows; branches compressed, wrinkled; 

 leaves subsessile, ovate, unequal at the base, acute at the apex, membranous, promi- 

 nently net-veined; flowers in axillary clusters, shortly pedicelled, very minute, 

 numerous; glands of male flowers free; stamens 3, filaments united in a column; 

 staminal column entire, anthers erect with vertical slits, free from one another; 

 female flowers with three bifid styles; capsule of three crustaceous 2-valved cocci; 

 seeds on the back coarsely, transversely undulate-ribbed. 



The type specimen of this species was collected on the island of Guam in 1819 by 

 Gaudichaud and placed in the herbarium of De Candolle. The plant is used medici- 

 nally by the natives of Guam. 

 References: 

 Phyllanthus marianus Muell. Arg. Linnsea 32: 17. 1863. 

 Not to be confused with PhyllaiUhus (Olochidion) marianus Miill. Arg. Flora 48: 

 379, 1865, also from Guam, which was first described by Miiller in Linntea, 32: 65, as 

 Olochidion marianum, a genus which is now recognized as distinct from Phyllanthus." 

 ^x^hyllanthus niruri. Fly-roost. 



Local N.\MEs. — Maigo-lalo, Maigu-lalo (Guam). 

 An annual, herbaceous, glabrous weed of wide tropical distribution; stem angular, 

 glabrous, 15 to 45 cm. high, often branched from the base, with slender leafy angu- 

 lar branchlets above. Leaves variable, pale green, 6 to 18 mm. long, often imbri- 

 cated in two rows, glaucous beneath, elliptic-obovate, oblong, or linear, the tip 

 rounded, obtuse, or acute; petiole minute; stipules subulate; flowers very numerous, 

 males solitary and in pairs, almost sessile; female twice as large; sepals of male orbic- 

 ular, of female narrowly obovate-oblong with broad white margins, spreading; disk 

 of male of minute glands; anthers 3, sessile on a short column; disk of female annu- 

 lar, lobed; styles minute, very short, free, 2-lobed; capsule minute, depressed- 

 globose, smooth; seeds with equal parallel slender ribs and faint cross strise. 



This plant is very common in Guam, growing everywhere in waste places. The 

 native name, signifying "sleeping flies," or "fly-roost," is probably applied to it 

 from the appearance of the plant when the leaves closing together have the appear- 

 ance of a number of two-winged insects clinging to the stem. 



The milky juice of this plant is a good remedy for offensive sores. The bruised 

 bitter leaves are applied externally as a cure for the itch and for scabby sores of the 

 scalp, and the fresh root is an excellent remedy for jaundice. * 

 References ; 



Phylhinthux niruri L. Sp. PI. 2: 981. 1758. 



"Hooker, Flora British India, vol. 5, p. 306, 1890. 



b Watt, Economic Products of India, vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 222, 1892. 



