306 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Lau-hala (Hawaii). See Pandanus tectorius. 



Laumapapa (Samoa). The bird' s-nest fern, Neottopteris nidus. See under Ferns. 



Lauraceae. Laurel family. 



This family is represented in Guam by Cassytha filiformis. 

 Laureno (Panama). See Herpetica alata. 

 Lausa'ato (Samoa). Acrostichum aureum. See under Ferns. 

 Lautalatalo (Samoa). See Crinum asiaticum. 

 Lau tefe-ule (Samoa). See Achyranthes aspera. 

 Lawns and lawn making. 



In Guam the best grass for lawns is the introduced Bermuda grass (Capriola dac- 

 tylon). Another grass, Slenotaphrum subulatum, which is indigenous and grows 

 either on the sandy seashore, on the edge of the forest, and even in the shade, is 

 also good. It has creeping rootstocks and a prostrate creeping habit of growth, and 

 never becomes coarse or hard. Both of these grasses are excellent for fodder and are 

 especially useful for covering bare land and binding drift sand and river banks. 

 They also successfully compete with most of the tropical weeds. They are easily 

 propagated by cutting into small pieces the creeping rooting stems. 



The most expeditious method of preparing a lawn of Bermuda grass is to clear and 

 level the plot of ground selected for the purpose, plow it up, or spade it, and prepare 

 it as for a garden. Then spread over it a layer of wet earth, of the consistency of 

 mortar, with which the chopped-up grass has been mixed. Each little joint will 

 take root, and in a short time a lawn will be established. Throughout the greater 

 part of the year there is sufficient rain to water the plot, but it is best to prepare it at 

 the beginning of the rainy season. In drier climates the plot must be watered from 

 time to time until the grass has established itself. Only a few tufts of Bermuda grass 

 are necessary to cover a large area. It will grow either on low, moist, sandy soil 

 near the sea or on the upland regions of the island. Once established it is hard to 

 eradicate, and it is apt to become a pest in cultivated fields. In establishing a pas- 

 ture the grass should be planted at intervals of 50 cm. in rows 1 meter apart. It 

 spreads rapidly and in a short time will cover the entire surface. 



In Guam it is cut and fed to cattle as green forage. It can, however, be dried, if 

 necessary, and made into excellent hay. 

 Lawsonia alba. Same as Lawsonia inermis. 



Lawsonia inermis. Henna. 



Family Lythraceae. 



Local names. — Cinamomo (Guam, Philippines); Chi-kiah-wah (China); Reseda 

 (Central America); Jamaica mignonette (West Indies); Broad Egyptian 

 privet (England); Henna (Persia); Khenna (Egypt); Al khanna (Arabic). 



A shrub bearing very fragrant flowers, with round branches, sometimes armed 

 with spines, and opposite entire lanceolate leaves. Flowers rather small, white, rose- 

 colored, or greenish; calyx-tube very short, limb with 4 ovate lobes; petals 4, obo- 

 vate, wrinkled, inserted at the top of the calyx-tube; stamens usually 8, inserted in 

 pairs between the petals, sometimes 4 only or 8 not paired; ovary free, 4-celled; 

 style very long, stigma capitate; ovules many; capsule leathery, globose, breaking 

 up irregularly, ultimately 1-celled; seeds many, angular, pyramidal, smooth, packed 

 on a central placenta. 



Introduced into Guam on account of the fragrance of its flowers. It is readily 

 propagated from cuttings, grows in the form of a bush sending up shoots, and is 

 suitable for hedges. When kept clipped it is not unlike privet. Its odor at short 

 range is rank and overpowering, but from a distance it is like that of mignonette. 

 On the shores of Central America the land breezes frequently waft the odor out to 

 sea. This species is the "sweet- smelling cauiphire" of Solomon. It is a native of 

 western Asia, Egypt, and the African coasts of the Mediterranean, and now grows 



