DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 875 



Sida rhombifolia. Broomweed. 



Local names. — Escobilla (Guam, Panama) ; Escoba (Spanish Central America); 



Malva de cochino (Cuba); Mautofu (Samoa); Ilima (Hawaii); Burume 



(Tahiti); Silhigon, Escobang-haba, Baseng-baseng (Philippines); Svet-berela 



(India); Kotikan-bevila (Ceylon). 



A half-shrubby weed growing by the roadsides and in open places, having yellow 

 flowers which open at about half-past 10 o'clock in the morning and soon fade to a 

 whitish color. Branches rough with stellate hairs; leaves 2.5 to 5 cm. long, rhomboid- 

 lanceolate, obtuse at the base, acute, entire below, dentate-serrate above, glabrous 

 above, more or less densely stellate-hairy beneath, petioles 6 mm. long, stellate- 

 hairy, stipules setaceous, longer than petioles; flowers 2 cm. long, peduncles axillary, 

 1-flowered, 1.5 to 4 cm. long, stellate-hairy; calyx-segments broadly triangular, very 

 acute or apiculate; ripe carpels 8 to 10, with or without beaks. 



This plant varies greatly with its environment, and it may be that forms described 

 as distinct species may be nothing more than varieties caused by differences of light, 

 moisture, soil, etc. 



It yields a good fiber, which in Australia is known as Queensland hemp. This is 

 fine, strong, white, and lustrous, and is easily extracted. It is softer and finer than 

 jute, but shorter. Experiments made with this fiber show that a cord 12.5 mm. in 

 circumference will sustain a weight of 400 pounds. In Guam fresh plants are gath- 

 ered each morning and made into bundles which serve as brooms. 

 References: 

 Sida rhombifolia L. Sp. PI. 2: 684. 1753. 

 Siempre-viva (Spanish). 



Local name for Bryophyllumpinnatum, which grows in Guam as a common roadside 

 weed. 

 Silhigon (Philippines). See Sida rhombifolia. 

 Silisili (Philippines). See Jasminum marianum. 

 Silk-cotton tree. See Ceiba pentahdra. 

 Silk leaf. See Tournefortia argentea. 

 Sincamas ( Philippines.) . See Cacara erosa. 

 Single head. See Nervilia arragoana. 

 Sisio (Philippines). See Phy salts angulata and P. minima. 

 Sitae (Philippines). See Vigna sinensis. 

 Soap orange. See Citrus aurantium saponacea. 

 Solanaceae. Nightshade family. 



This family is represented in Guam by the following species: 



Capsicum annuum. — Doni, Cayenne pepper. 



Capsicum frutescens. — Doni, spur pepper. 



Cestrum nocturnum. — Dama de noche, night-blooming Cestrum. 



Cestrum pallidum. — Tintan China, " Chinese inkberry." 



Datura fastuosa, Purple-flowered thornapple. 



Lyeopersicon lycopersicum. — Tomato. 



Nicotiana tabacum. — Chupa, tobacco. 



Physalis angulata. — Tomates de brihuega, ground-cherry. 



Physalis minima. — Tomates de brihuega, ground-cherry. 



Solanum melongena. — Berengenas, eggplant. 



Solanum melongena. Eggplant. 



Family Solanaceae. 



Local names. — Berenghenas (Guam); Berengena (Spanish); Talong (Philip- 

 pines). 

 The eggplant is one of the principal vegetables cultivated in Guam gardens. It 

 thrives best in sandy soil. The fruit is large, oval in shape, and purple. A favorite 

 method of cooking it is to stuff it with minced meat and bake it. 

 References: 



Solanum melongena L. Sp. PL 1:186. 1753. 



