208 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



in the form of "songe," while its Philippine name is applied in Fiji, Samoa, and 

 Rarotonga to the allied genus Alocasia. 

 References: 



Caladium colocasia (L. ). 



Aram colocasia L. Sp. PI. 2: 965. 1753. 



Colocasia antiquorum Schott in Schott & Endl. Meletem. 1 : 18. 1832. 

 The genus Caladium established by Ventenat, Description des plantes nouvelles et peu 

 connues, cultivees dans le jardin de J. M. Cels. t. 30. 1800, and Roemer, Archiv fur die 

 Botanik, 2:347. 1799-1801, is adopted from the Caladium of Rumph, Herbarium 

 Amboinense, 5:313-318. 1747. The only species mentioned in common by the two 

 authors is Caladium esculenium, which should therefore be considered as the type of the 

 genus; and since this species is congeneric with, or, indeed, is sometimes considered 

 merely a variety of Caladium colocasia, Caladium is restored as the correct name of the 

 genus. The combination Caladium colocasia, cited in the Index Kewensis as having 

 been published in Robert Wight's Icones for a different species, I find not to have 

 been published there, and it is therefore a valid name in its present use. 



The name Colocasia, on the other hand, even though Caladium was not to be 

 applied to this genus, would be an untenable name, for it was proposed by Necker 

 in 1790 for a genus the identity of which does not appear to have been definitely 

 established, and again by Link in 1795 for still a different group. Either of these 

 proposed uses would invalidate the application of the name as published by Schott 

 in 1832.— W. F. W. 



Caladium esculentum. See Caladium colocasia. 

 Calamasa (Guam). Same as Kalamasa. 

 Calambit (Philippines). See Guilandina crista. 

 Calamismis (Philippines). See Botor tetragonoloba. 



Calamus sp. Rattan. 



Family Phoenicaceae. 



Local names. — Behuko halom-tano (Guam); Bejuco cimarron (Spanish). 

 An indigenous climbing palm growing in Guam, of little economic value. An 

 attempt was made to introduce the chair rattans, but it was unsuccessful. 

 Calophyllum inophyllum. Palo Maria. 



Family Clusiaceae. 



Local names. — Daog or Daok (Guam); Dangkalan, Dinkalin, Bitaog, Bitanhol, 

 Tamauian (Philippines); Palo Maria, Palo de Santa Maria (Spanish); Tamanu 

 (Rarotonga, Tahiti); Fetau (Samoa); Dilo(Fiji); Kamanu or Kamani (Hawaii); 

 Foraha (Madagascar); Domba (Ceylon); Alexandrian Laurel (India). 

 A tree usually growing near the shore. Leaves opposite, shining, coriaceous, with 

 innumerable parallel veins at right angles to the midrib, oblong or obovate-oblong, 

 obtuse or emarginate; flowers polygamous, in axillary or terminal racemes, pure 

 white, fragrant; sepals 4; petals 4, rarely 6 to 8, like the inner sepals; stamens numer- 

 ous, filaments in 4 bundles; ovary globose, stipitate; style much exceeding the stamens; 

 stigma peltate, lobed; fruit 2.5 cm. in diameter, globose, smooth, yellow, pulpy. 



This tree is widely spread throughout Polynesia and occurs on the tropical shores 

 of Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is often planted near habitations and is valued for 

 its wood, for an aromatic gum which exudes from incisions made in its trunk and 

 limbs, and for a medicinal oil obtained from its nuts. Seeds of this species were 

 among those collected by Doctor Guppy in the Solomon Islands in the drift of the 

 beach, having probably been carried there by ocean currents. 



When the leaves are put in water an oil rises to the surface. This is used in some 

 parts of India as a remedy for sore eyes. In southern Polynesia and India the dark 

 green fragrant oil expressed from the nuts, called dilo oil or domba oil, is used as a 

 lamp oil and is an external remedy for bruises and rheumatic pains. The resin 



