
218 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
Physalis pubescens. SAcCABUCHE PELUDO. ; 
An herbaceous annual, 60 centimeters high, common. This is the common cul- j 
tivated ground cherry or strawberry tomato. (Stahl, 6: 121.) j 
At Arecibo the fruit of a species of Physalis was said to be used for stomach 
troubles, and the roots for toothache. 
Physic nut. See Jatropha curcas. 
Pica-pica. See Mucuna pruriens and Fleurya aestuans. 
Picha de gato. See Scolosanthus grandifolius. 
Pichana. See Wissadula rostrata. 
Pichana mocha. See Abutilon leiospermum. 
Pichana peduncular. See Abutilon pedunculare. 
Picramnia pentandra. GUAREMA. 
Family Simarubaceae; a shrub 10 to 15 feet (8 to 5 meters) high, from the 
vicinity of Cayey and Lares. The common name was recorded by Bello. — 
Picrasma excelsa. BITTERWOOD. 
A small tree of the family Simarubaceae; found in Jamaica, Antigua, and sey- 
eral of the smaller islands. The bark and wood are extremely bitter and are now 
preferred to the genuine quassia from Guayana and Brazil. Picrasma is found 
in forests of low elevation near the sea. 
Pictetia aristata. TACHUELO. PLates LIT. LITT. 
Family Viciaceae; a tree 6 to 8 meters high. The wood is extremely hard and 
heavy. Found in the southeastern coastal regions. (Stahl, 3: 50.) 
Hill identifies ‘‘ tachuelo’’ with ‘*‘ hachuelo,’’ and with the calabash tree, Cre- 
scentia. Our informants, including Captain Lugovine and Senor Besosa, agree 
in giving the name to an extremely hard and heavy wood, which endures indefi- 
nitely in the ground and is used in supporting houses. The leaves have a spine 
from the midrib. A photograph of a branch was taken at Penon and a ‘‘ habitus- 
bild”’ of a clump of shrubby growth about 20 feet (6 meters) high in an open 
pasture at Coamo Springs. 
Pictetia squamata. 
A specimen from Coamo is in the National Herbarium. 
Pigeon pea. See Cajanus cajan. 
Pigeon wood. 
A name applied in the British West Indies to several trees belonging to the 
genera Dipholis, Diospyros, and Coccolobis. 
Pigweed. See Amaranthus paniculatus and A. tristis. 
Pilea ciliaris.“ 
Family Urticaceae. This and P. elegans, broad-leaved species, are quite unlike 
P. trianthemoidea. Known from Adjuntas and Sabana Grande. 
' Pilea trianthemoides. ARTILLERY PLANT. VERDOLAGUILLO. 
A very fine-leaved, fern-like plant, common in most rocky situations where the 
ground is moist; also on roofs of houses in mountain districts. The stone water 
filters and storage jars for water are often overgrown with this species. 
Pilocarpus racemosus. 
An indigenous shrub or small tree, 2 to 5 meters high, belonging to the Rutaceae. 
Reported from Aguado, Aguadilla, and near Rio Grande. 
Pimenta acris. See Amomis caryophyllata. 
Pimenta officinalis. See Pimenta pimenta. % 

“The name Adicea Raf. antedates Pilea Lindl., but the species here referred to 
have not been transferred to that genus. 

