308 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



after the segments of the pod have been detached. Leaves with two or three pairs 

 of pinnae, sometimes with a single pair, rachis ending in a bifid, spiral tendril, by 

 which the plant climbs; pinnse with 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets; leaflets obovate-oblong, 

 acute at base, rounded, often emarginate at apex, glabrous, paler beneath, with the 

 lateral veins conspicuous; flowers sessile, very small, with 5 petals and 10 stamens, 

 polygamous (male and bisexual), crowded in long, narrow, pedunculate axillary 

 spikes; pod 60 to 90 cm. long, often curved, sometimes twisted, compressed, hard, 

 indented on both sutures between the seeds, joints (PL XV) 6 to 12, turgid, 1-seeded, 

 indehiscent, brown, readily detached from the surrounding tough, woody suture and 

 from one another, so that each forms a water-tight cell inclosing the large, smooth, 

 shining brown, orbicular, compressed seed, which does not completely fill it, but 

 leaves a large air space. Testa of the seed hard, thick, and woody. Cotyledons 

 inclosing an air space between them, which gives buoyancy to the seed and enables 

 it to be transported by ocean currents. (See PL XV. ) 



In Guam the seeds are called "bayog" or "badyog." The stems often grow to 

 the thickness of a man's arm and to a length of a hundred feet. When green it is 

 tough, but on drying it loses its strength. Fish traps are often made of the green 

 stems. The stems are saponaceous and when crushed are used for washing clothes. 

 In India the seeds are used for washing the hair, and as a remedy for fever. In 

 Java they are used as an emetic. In Samoa the seeds, called " tupe " by the natives, 

 are used in playing certain games. This name has now been applied to money. 

 References: 

 Lens phaseoloides Stickman Herb. Amb. 1754; Amoen. Acad. 4: 128. 1759. 

 Mimosa scandens L. Sp. PL ed. 2. 2: 1501. 1763. 

 Entada scandens Benth. Hook. Journ. Bot. 4: 332. 1842. 



The name Lens was published for this genus in 1754, while Entada was not pub- 

 lished until 1763. 

 Lenteha fransesa (Guam). 



The local name for Cajan cajan, so called because it was introduced by the French 

 ship Castries (1772). 

 Lest on (Guam). 



Vernacular name for Ophioglossum pendulum, signifying ' ' belt, " or " ribbon. ' ' See 

 under Ferns. 



Lettuce. See Lactuca saliva. 



Leucaena g-lauca. Hedge acacia. 



Family Mimosaceae. 



Local names. — Tarigantarigan (Guam); Agho (Philippines); Santa Helena 

 (Spanish); Hediondilla (Porto Rico); Aroma blanca (Cuba); Lead tree (West 

 Indies) . 



An unarmed Acacia-like shrub, or small tree, with globular heads of flowers, much 

 used in Guam for fences or hedges. Leaves bipinnate, with glands on the petioles; 

 pinnae 4 to 6 pairs bearing 10 to 20 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oblong-linear, acute, 

 very oblique, slightly curved, pale or glaucous underneath; peduncles solitary or 

 two or three together in the upper axils, 2.5 to 3.5 cm. long, the upper ones forming 

 a terminal raceme; heads about 2.5 cm. in diameter, flowers whitish, turning brown 

 on dying, not fragrant; calyx cylindrical-cam panulate, shortly toothed; petals val- 

 vate, free; stamens 10, free, much exserted; ovary stalked, many ovuled; style fili- 

 form, stigma minute terminal; pod flat, coriaceous, straight, strap-shaped, dehiscent, 

 15 to 20-seeded. This plant resembles a Mimosa in having 10 stamens, but differs 

 from that genus in having strap-shaped pods like an Acacia. 



Branches or stakes of this plant when stuck in the ground take root readily, and 

 for this reason, together with the fact that cattle do not relish its leaves, it is a favorite 



