DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 351 



Honolulu Botanical Gardens, were planted in Guam, and were thriving at the time of 

 my departure from the island. 

 References: 

 Phoenix sylvestris (L. ) Roxb. Hort. Beng. 73. 1814 (ex Ind. Kew.); Fl. Ind. 



3: 787.1832. 

 Elate sylvestris L. Sp. PI. 2: 1189. 1753. 

 Phragmites communis. Same as Trichoon phragmites. See under Trichoon 



roxburghii. 

 Phragmites karka Trin. Same as Trichoon roxburghii 

 Phragmites phragmites. See under Trichoon roxburghii. 

 Phragmites roxburghii. Same as Trichoon roxburghii. 

 Phyllanthus gaudichaudii. Same as Glochidion marianum. 



Phyllanthus marianus. Phyllanthus. 



Family Euphorbiaceae. 



A shrub with leaves arranged in two vertical rows; branches compressed, wrinkled; 

 leaves subsessile, ovate, unequal at the base, acute at the apex, membranous, promi- 

 nently net-veined; flowers in axillary clusters, shortly pedicelled, very minute, 

 numerous; glands of male flowers free; stamens 3, filaments united in a column; 

 staminal column entire, anthers erect with vertical slits, free from one another; 

 female flowers with three bifid styles; capsule of three crustaceous 2-valved cocci; 

 seeds on the back coarsely, transversely undulate-ribbed. 



The type specimen of this species was collected on the island of Guam in 1819 by 

 Gaudichaud and placed in the herbarium of De Candolle. The plant is used medici- 

 nally by the natives of Guam. 

 References : 

 Phyllanthus marianus Muell. Arg. Linmea 32: 17. 1863. 



Not to be confused with Phyllanthus (Glochidion) marianus Mull. Arg. Flora 48: 



379, 1865, also from Guam, which was first described by Muller in Linneea, 32: 65, as 



Glochidion marianum, a genus which is now recognized as distinct from Phyllanthus. a 



Phyllanthus niruri. Fly-roost. 



Local names. — Maigo-lalo, Maigu-lalo (Guam). 



An annual, herbaceous, glabrous weed of wide tropical distribution; stem angular, 

 glabrous, 15 to 45 cm. high, often branched from the base, with slender leafy angu- 

 lar branchlets above. Leaves variable, pale green, 6 to 18 mm. long, often imbri- 

 cated in two rows, glaucous beneath, elliptic-obovate, oblong, or linear, the tip 

 rounded, obtuse, or acute; petiole minute; stipules subulate; flowers very numerous, 

 males solitary and in pairs, almost sessile; female twice as large; sepals of male orbic- 

 ular, of female narrowly obovate-oblong with broad white margins, spreading; disk 

 of male of minute glands; anthers 3, sessile on a short column; disk of female annu- 

 lar, lobed; styles minute, very short, free, 2-lobed; capsule minute, depressed- 

 globose, smooth; seeds with equal parallel slender ribs and faint cross stria?. 



This plant is very common in Guam, growing everywhere in waste places. The 

 native name, signifying "sleeping flies," or "fly-roost," is probably applied to it 

 from the appearance of the plant Avhen the leaves closing together have the appear- 

 ance of a number of two- winged insects clinging to the stem. 



The milky juice of this plant is a good remedy for offensive sores. The bruised 

 bitter leaves are applied externally as a cure for the itch and for scabby sores of the 

 scalp, and the fresh root is an excellent remedy for jaundice. & 

 References: 



Phyllanthus niruri L. Sp. PL 2: 981. 1753. 



« Hooker, Flora British India, vol. 5, p. 306, 1890. 



& Watt, Economic Products of India, vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 222, 1892. 



