398 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



crushed. The species is of wide distribution, occurring in tropical Asia, the East 

 Indies, the islands of eastern Africa, and Polynesia. Of the variety unifoliata, which 

 grows on the seacoast of Japan, the small, round, fragrant seeds are gathered and 

 used medicinally. 



References: 



Vitex trifolia L. Sp. PI. 2: 638. 1753. 

 Vitis. . Grape. 



Family Vitaceae. 



Local names. — Parra (Spanish). 

 Grapes are cultivated by a few of the natives, but they are of inferior quality and 

 thus far have not proved successful. 

 Vittaria elongata. Ribbon fern. 



Family Polypodiaceae. 

 An epiphytal fern with grass-like fronds, having its sori in a continuous line in a 

 furrow along the margin. 



References: 



Vittaria elongata Sw. Syn. Fil. 106. 1806. 

 Vittaria ensiforniis Llanos. Same as Vittaria elongata. 

 Volkarneria inermis L. Same as Clerodendron inerme. 

 Waltheria americana. Matico. 



Family Sterculiaceae. 



Local names. — Hialoa (Hawaii); Malva blanca (Cuba); Malvabisco, Basora 

 prieta (Porto Rico); Matico, Hierba del Soldado (Trop. America). 

 A perennial weed with a woody base, 30 to 60 cm. high, densely tomentose or 

 softly hairy in every part. Leaves ovate-oblong, 1.5 cm. by 2 to 3 cm., on petioles 

 12 mm. long, obtuse, dentate, feather-veined; down stellate mixed with simple hairs; 

 stipules narrow, deciduous; flowers small, sessile in close clusters along axillary 

 peduncles 4 cm. long; bracts linear; calyx 5-lobed, downy, lobes acute; petals little 

 longer, unguiculate or clawed, orange-colored; stamens 5, opposite the petals, united 

 at the base, with 2 parallel anther cells; ovary downy, sessile, of a single carpel with 

 2 erect ovules, style excentrical, with fringed stigma; capsule opening at the back 

 into 2 valves; seeds usually solitary. 



A common weed of wide distribution in the Tropics and occuring on many Pacific 

 islands. 



References: 



Waltheria americana L. Sp. PI. 2: 673. 1753.' 

 Waltheria indica L. Sp. PI. 2: 673. 1753. 

 Waltheria elliptica Cav. Diss. 6: 316. t. 171. f. 2. 1788. 

 Waltheria elliptica Cav. Same as Waltheria americana. 

 "Waltheria indica L. Same as Waltheria americana. 

 Walwalisan (Philippines). See Sida carpinifolia. 

 Water fern. See Ceratopteris thalictroides. 

 Water hyssop. See Bacopa monniera. 

 Watermelon. See Gardens. 

 Water-root. See Xervilia arragoana. 

 Wax-gourd. See Benincasa cerifera. 

 Weather plant. See Abrus abrus. 

 Wedelia biflora. Same as Stemmodontia biflora. 

 Wedelia canescens. Same as Stemmodontia canescens. 

 Wedelia chamissonis Less. Same as Stemmodontia canescens. 



