336 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Ochrosia mariannensis. Marianne yellow-wood. 



Family Apocynaceae. 

 Local names. — Fago?, Larigiti? (Guam). 



A forest tree of medium size, with glossy coriaceous leaves and milky sap, resem- 

 bling Cerbera. Leaves in whorls of three, oblong, narrowing to the base, obtuse at 

 the apex, very smooth, venose beneath; calyx 5-parted, lobes elliptical, very obtuse, 

 smooth; corolla salver-shaped, 4 lines long, smooth without, pubescent within, 5- 

 lobed, the tube without scales at the constricted throat, the lobes turning toward 

 the right; stamens 5, inserted at the middle of the tube, included, the lanceolate 

 anthers longer than the filaments; disk wanting; ovaries 2, appressed; ovules small, 

 2 to 6 in each carpel; drupes 2 (or 1 by abortion), with woody endocarp; seeds 2, 

 large and compressed, with thin testa, separated by the thin placenta; embryo 

 straight, with plane cotyledons and a superior radicle. 



This species was referred by Gaudichaud, who first collected it in Guam, to the 

 genus Rauwolfia. The branches are cylindrical and smooth; leaves 7 to 10 cm. long, 

 16 to 20 mm. wide, approximate to the apex of the branches, gradually narrowing to 

 the petiole, the lateral veins almost at right angles to the midrib. (De Candolle 

 Prod. 8: 357). Ochrosia commutata described by K. Schumann from New Guinea 

 is possibly identical with this species. 



The wood is fine-grained and of a yellow color. It is sometimes used in Guam for 

 making furniture. It does not soon decay and it resists the attacks of insects, but it 

 is not strong. It takes a fine polish and has the advantage of lightness, but the 

 natives seem to prefer the "ifil" to it. On being wounded a thick milky juice 

 exudes from the branches and green fruits, w T hich coagulates and resembles rubber. 

 References: 



Ochrosia mariannensis A. DC. in DC. Prod. 8: 357. 1844. 



Ocimum basilicum. Sweet basil. 



Family Menthaceae. 



Local names. — Albahaca (Spanish); Atbahakat (Guam). 

 A cultivated aromatic plant, herbaceous, erect, glabrous or pubescent; leaves 

 petiolate, ovate or oblong, narrowed at the base, toothed or entire; petioles ciliate; 

 bracts petiolate; flowers in simple raceme; calyces longer than pedicels, ovoid or 

 campanulate, deflexed in fruit, upper tooth broadest, decurrent, 2 lower ovate- 

 lanceolate, awned, longer than the rounded upper; corolla Avhite, pink, or purplish, 

 8 to 12 mm. long; tube short, upper lip subequally 4-fid, lower entire; stamens 4, 

 exserted, declinate. 



This plant is found growing in many of the native gardens. It has a pleasant 

 odor and is used medicinally and for culinary purposes as a seasoning. In India it 

 is used in perfumery and the small black seeds, which become mucilaginous when 

 steeped in water, are used by native doctors in the treatment of gonorrhea 



References: 



Ocimum basilicum L. Sp. PI. 2: 597. 1753. 



Ocimurn canum. Hairy basil. 



Local names. — Albahaca (Spanish); Atbahakat (Guam). 

 This plant closely resembles the preceding, but is smaller in all its parts; corolla 

 white, smaller than that of preceding, half as .long as filaments, which are hairy at 

 the knee; nutlets jet black; flowers nearly sessile; bracts ovate, awned, not so large 

 as the nearly smooth calyx, ciliate; leaves pubescent, narrowly ovate. 



This plant is used by the natives like the preceding. It was first collected in 

 Guam by Gaudichaud. 

 References: 



Ocimum canum Sims, Bot. Mag. 51: t. 2452. 1824. 



