COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 189 
Meibomia incana. ZARZABACOA COMUN. 
An annual or biennial shrub found in pastures. The variety angustifolia is 
reported from Rincon. The general habit of this species seems not unlike that of 
M. axillaris, and economic utility is improbable. (Stahl, 3: 48, as Desmodium 
ineanum. ) 
Meibomia mollis. ZarzABACOA DULCE. 
Found on the west coast. Also known from Juana Diaz. (Stahl, 3: 49, as Des- 
modium molle.) 
Meibomia scorpiurus. ZARZABACOA COLA DE ESCORPION, 
An herb 50 centimeters high, prostrate, common in arid pastures and stony 
places. (Stahl, 3: 46, as Desmodium scorpiurus. ) 

Fig. 12.—Lawn of Meibomia triflora. Coamo Springs. 
Meibomia spiralis. ZARZABACOA ESPIRAL. 
A slender species attaining a height of 2 feet. A form much more delicate and 
leafy than usual was collected at Coamo Springs (No. 716). This might be of 
interest if the plant should be found of economic utility. In the Index Kewensis 
the present species is treated as a synonym of Desmodium neomexicanum, but 
specimens in the National Herbarium do not indicate close affinity. 
Meibomia tortuosa. FLORIDA BEGGAR-WEED. ZARZABACOA TORCIDA. 
A shrub, 1 meter high, found along roadsides and in moist mountainous places. 
This is the species now somewhat extensively cultivated in our Southern States 
asa forage and soiling crop. From its habit and general characteristics it would 
seem that the form mentioned under Meibomia spiralis might be preferable, at 
least from the forage standpoint. (Stahl, 3: 48, as Desmodium tortuosum. ) 
Meibomia triflora. ZARZABACOA DE TRES FLORES. FIGURE 12. 
A small herbaceous annual, found in dry places along the coast. This species 
was collected in a dry, exposed situation at Coamo Springs, where it covered the 
