174 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Acapulco (Guam). 



Vernacular name for Herpetica alata, a plant introduced into the Philippines and 

 Guam from Mexico. 



Achiote or Achote ( Spanish ) . • See Bixa oreUana. 

 Achiotl (Mexico). See Bixa oreUana. 

 Achras sapota. See Sapota zapotilla. 

 Achuete (Philippines). See Bixa oreUana. 

 Achugan (Guam). 



Vernacular name for a coarse swamp grass. Only carabaos will eat it. 

 Achyranth.es aspera. Prickly chaff-flower. 



Family Amaranthaceae. 



Local names. — Chichitun (Guam); Saromo (Philippines); Lautefe-ule (Samoa). 

 A shrubby weed growing to the height of 3 feet, with slender elongated spikes 

 of puri^lish-green flowers, which are at length reflexed and appressed to the axis; 

 flowers cartilaginous; bracts at first soft, but soon becoming rigid and prickle- 

 like; capsules 5-seeded, reddish; stems downy, inclined to be 4-angled; leaves 

 opposite, ovate or rounded, abruptly attenuate at the base, pubescent. 



A species widely spread throughout the warmer regions of the globe. In Guam 

 it is a troublesome weed; the vernacular name, signifying "tick," is given on account 

 of the property the fruit has of sticking to the clothing. In Samoa it is thought by 

 the natives to have healing properties, and is called " circumcision plant." In India 

 the leaves taken fresh and rubbed to a pulp are applied externally to the stings of 

 scorpions. A decoction of them is used as a diuretic, and the seeds are used as a 

 remedy for hydrophobia and snake bites. 

 References: 



Acliyranthes aspera L. Sp. PL 1: 204. 1753. 

 Acrostichum aureum. Marsh fern. Plate iv. 



Family Polypodiaceae. 



Local names. — Langayao (Guam); Lau sa'ato (Samoa); Lagolo (Philippines). 

 A large, robust, pinnatisect fern growing in marshy places, with smooth, leathery 

 fronds, the upper segments of which bear the sori on the under surface and the 

 lower of which are sterile; veins forming a network; midrib almost excurrent. 



This species is of Avide distribution in the Tropics. In Guam it is common in the 

 large marsh near Agana called la Cienaga. In Fiji its fronds, together with the leaves 

 of Parinari laurinum, were formerly used for thatching the temples of the aborigines. 

 It occurs in the West Indies and in southern Florida. 

 References: 

 Acrostichum aureum L. Sp. PL 1068. 1753. 

 Acrostichum spicatum. Same as Belvisia spicata. See Ferns. 

 Adelfa (Spanish). See Xerium oleander. 



Adenanthera pavonina. Coral-bean tree. 



Family Mimosaceae. 



Local names. — Kohiles, Kuhilis (Guam); Bahay, Casay (Philippines); La'au 

 lopa (Samoa); Redwood, Red sandalwood (India). 

 A handsome deciduous tree with spreading branches and bipinnate leaves, bear- 

 ing pods of glossy, scarlet, biconvex seeds. Pinnae 2 to 6 pairs; leaflets 6 to 12 pairs, 

 oval, obtuse, glabrous; flowers in racemes, numerous, small, white and yellow 

 mixed, fragrant; calyx 4 or 5-toothed; stamens 8 to 10; pods linear, somewhat 

 curved, bivalved, 10 to 12-seeded. 



The tree is a native of the East Indies, where the jewelers use the seeds for 

 weights, each weighing almost exactly 4 grains. The heartwood of the larger trees 

 is of a deep red color. It is hard and durable and in India is sometimes used as a 

 substitute for red sandalwood. It vields a dye, which the Brahmins of India use for 



