350 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Pharbitis insularis Choisy. Same as Ipornoea congesta. 



Pharbitis nil. Same as Pharbitis hederacea. 



Phaseolus lunatus inainoenus. Lima beax. 



Family Fabaceae. 



Local names. — Habas (Spanish); Patani (Philippines). 

 Lima beans will grow in Guam, but our common varieties do not appear to nourish 

 here. They should be planted toward the end of the rainy season. In India fresh 

 seed is imported annually from America. 

 References: 



Phaseolus lunatus inamoenus (L. ). 

 Phaseolus inamoenus L. Sp. PI. 2: 724. 1753. 

 Phaseolus macrocarpus Moench, Meth. 1: 155. 1794. 



Phaseolus mungo. Green gram. 



Local names. — Moriggos (Guam); Muiiggo, Moifggo, Balatong (Philippines); 

 Mung (India). 



The most extensively cultivated leguminous plant in Guam. A low suberect 

 annual, more or less densely clothed with loose deflexed hairs, leaves 3-foliolate, 

 stipellate; leaflets membranous, entire, rarely faintly lobed; stipules ovate; flowers 

 in axillary capitate racemes at the end of the peduncles; bracteoles ovate or lanceo- 

 late; calyx campanulate; Corolla yellow, much exserted; keel prolonged into a com- 

 plete spiral; pedicels very short; pod 3.5 to 6 cm. long by 4 to .5 mm. in diameter, 

 clothed with deciduous silky hairs, subcylindrical, slightly recurved; seeds small, 

 green. 



In the agricultural statistics of one year I find that in the district of Agaha there 

 were planted 131 chupas of monggos (102 pints), and 1,149 gantas (455.3 pecks) were 

 gathered, making the yield more than seventyfold.« 



This plant is widely distributed in the Tropics. It is extensively Cultivated in 

 many warm countries, especially in the Philippines and on the plains of India. The 

 seeds are largely imported into San Francisco, Cal., by the Chinese. In Guam it is 

 grown as a rotation crop after maize. It thrives best apparently on the highland 

 during the rainy season. Cattle are very fond of the seeds, stems, and leaves. In 

 India and in the Philippines the seeds are ground into flour and used as a substitute 

 for soap for washing delicate fabrics. They are wholesome and nutritious and have 

 a pleasant taste. They may be eaten as a porridge or parched. The green pods are 

 sometimes eaten as a vegetable. An analysis of the seed has been made by W. C. 

 Blasdale. & 



References: 

 Phaseolus mungo L. Mant. 1: 101. 1767. 

 Phoenix dactylifera. Date. 



Family Phoenicaceae. 



I kno.w of only one tree of this species in Guam. It grows in the garden of the 

 rectory back of the church of Agaiia. As the species is dioecious, of course the tree 

 bears no fruit. It is probable that the climate is too moist for the culture of dates, 

 though the trees could be propagated without trouble. 

 References: 



Phoenix dactylifera L. Sp. PI. 2: 1188. 1753. 

 Phoenix sylvestris. Wild date. 



Several specimens of this palm obtained by me from Mr. David Haughs, of the 



"Olive y Garcia, Islas Marianas, App. no. 4, 1887. 



''Blasdale, Some Chinese vegetable food materials, etc., U. S. Dept. Agr., Off. Exp. 

 Sta., Bull. No. 68, p. 37, 1899. 



