68 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
Adansonia digitata. 
Family Bombacaceae; the African baobab tree has been introduced into gardens 
in the West Indies, but is not Known to have become naturalized. 
Adelfa. See Neriwm oleander. 
Adelfa sencilla. See Neriwm oleander. 
The name means single oleander. 
Adenanthera pavonina. PALO DE PERONIAS. 
Also called ‘*coralitos;’’ a leguminous tree, 5 meters high, introduced from 
India as an ornamental, and naturalized in some localities. (Stahl, 3: 135.) 
Grosourdy gives the common name ‘‘coral,’? and describes it as a wild tree 
of the hills, 30 or 40 feet (9 to 12 meters) high, 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 centimeters) 
in diameter, furnishing a rather strong reddish wood. Used for beams and boards 
of country houses and frequently turned. It also serves as a dyestuff. (Gro- 
sourdy, 2: 377.) 
Adiantum fragile. 
Sold in the market at Ponce for making an infusion used in diseases of women. 
Aegiphila martinicensis. CAPaILLo. 
Family Verbenaceae; a smooth shrub growing in thickets in the foothills; flow- 
ering in summer and autumn. (Stahl, 6: 222.) Reported from Yabucao. 
(Sintenis. ) 
Aeria attenuata. LLUME. 
Family Arecaceae; the so-called *‘ lume” paln is a most striking ornament of 
the rugged limestone hills from Vega Baja to Manatiand Arecibo. Ata sufficient 
distance the slender trunk is no longer visible and the crown of leaves appears as if 
suspended in mid-air, while at closer range it does not seem possible that so slender 
a shaft can maintain itself. This very slenderness, with the attending flexibility, 
is, however, an element of strength, since it permits the trees to bend before the 
wind while the leaves diminish the resistance by straightening out as in the cocoa- 
nut. The hurricane of August, 1899, seemed to have done little damage to these 
tallest of Porto Rico palms, many of which project for more than half their height 
above everything standing about them. As the trees of the rather sparse forest 
growth of these hills are commonly from 12 to 18 meters tall, the lume palms 
must often attain upwards of 30 meters. 










Aeschynomene americana. YERBA ROSARIO. 
A leguminous shrubby herb affecting roadsides and dry localities, flowering in 
autumn. The pod has but 5 to 8 joints, instead of 9 to 15 as in A. sensitiva. Our 
specimens were obtained at Carolina and Cayey. 
Aeschynomene portoricensis. 
A new species, named by Urban, from the shores of Lake Tortugero near Manati. 
Aeschynomene sensitiva. YERBA ROSARIO. 
An herb or biennial shrub growing in localities subject to inundation; flowers 
in August. (Stahl, 3: 37. } 
Agati grandifiora. GaALLiro. 
A small, ornamental, leguminous tree. or large shrub, 3 to 5 meters high, said 
by Stahl to be a biennial. The large pendulous flowers are either white or pink. 
At Coamo Springs this was called *‘ baculo.”’ A native of India, cultivated in 
gardens. (Stahl, 3: 33.) 
Agave. i 
Agaves or century plants are not uncommon in Porto Rico, and are plentiful on ~ 
the dry hillsides near Guayanilla. What appeared to be several distinct species 
were observed, but specific determinations are so difficult and uncertain in this 
group that no attempt was made to classify them. 
