56 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



familiar with the forest vegetation of Eastern Polynesia will be struck 

 by the absence from the forests of Guam of such genera as Freycinetia, 

 Papyrius (Broussonetia), Urticastrum (Laportea), Myristica, Parinari, 

 Bocoa (Inocarpus), Dysoxylum, Nyalelia (Aglaia), Macaranga, Bis- 

 chofia, Aleurites, Omalanthus, Spondias, Rhus, Alphitonia, Melochia, 

 Kleinhovia, Metrosideros, Maesa, and Diospyros. 



Among the climbing plants and epiphytes of the forest are Lens 

 phaseoloides, the scimitar-pod sea bean (PI. LVI), whose enormous, 

 scabbard-like legumes contain lenticular seeds (PI. XV) sometimes 

 used for making snuffboxes; Stizolobium giganteum, often called 

 "ox-eye" bean; a species of Calamus, with beautiful branching inflo- 

 rescence of white flowers; Luisia teretifolia, an inconspicuous orchid, 

 and the minute leafless Taeniophyllum fasciola; Dischidia puberula, 

 an interesting asclepiad growing upon trees, with minute urceolate 

 flowers and fleshy leaves; bird's-nest ferns {Neottopteris nidus), perched 

 on the branches associated with broad ribbons of Opliioderma pendula, 

 tufts of JVephrolepis acuta and JV. hirsutida, grass-like Vlttaria elon- 

 gata, and pendent tassels of Lycopodium phlegmaria (PI. LVII); 

 climbing leatheiy-fronded Phymatodes phymatodes, lobed like oak 

 leaves; Gyclophorus adnascens, with linear-lanceolate fronds; graceful 

 Davallia solida (PI. Ill), with glossy divided fronds, and the interest- 

 ing Humata heterophylla (PI. LIII), which takes its generic nanie from 

 the village of Humatag, or Umata, on the west coast of this island, 

 where it was first collected. 



Beneath the shade of the forest trees several undershrubs are 

 usually found, including species of Icacorea, Piper, Peperomia, and 

 the creeping rubiaceous Carinta herbacea, with small white flowers 

 and scarlet berries. On the edges of the woods and by roadsides are 

 thickets of the spiny Guilandina crista, bearing the well-known gray, 

 stony " nicker-nuts," the sharp recurved thorns of its branches catch- 

 ing or scratching every animal which brushes against them (PI. LI). 

 Lemoncito thickets (Triphasia trifoliaia) are also common, the bushes 

 sprouting from the roots and bearing fragrant, white, jasmine-like 

 flowers and scarlet berries resembling miniature oranges. Among the 

 succulent plants are wild ginger {Zinziber zerumbet), turmeric {Cur- 

 cuma longa), Canna indica, the Pol} T nesian arrowroot (Tacca pinnati- 

 Jlda), and the introduced Taetsia terminalis, a liliaceous plant with 

 graceful tufts of red leaves. Besides the climbing and epiphytal ferns 

 already mentioned there are many others growing on the ground, 

 including Belvisia spicata, Dryop>teris dissecta, Dryopteris parasitica, 

 Asplenium laserpitiifolium, A. nitidum, Microsorium irioides, and sev- 

 eral species of Pteris. No filmy ferns (Hymienophyllaceae) have been 

 found on the island. The only tree fern of Guam thus far known is 

 Alsophila haenkei, growing in damp places and often associated with 

 Angiopteris evecta. 



