222 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
the great weight and size of its branches, but in Trinidad our trees have never 
suffered in this way, as we are fortunately outside the common cyclone or hurri- 
cane area.” : 
Pithecolobium unguis-cati. UNA DE GATO. BLACK BEAD. 
- A shrub 10 feet (3 meters) high, from the south coast. (Stahl, 3: 139.) 
Near Guayanilla this plant was called *‘ escambron colorado.”’ 
Plantago major. LLANTEN. 
Family Plantaginaceae. A gigantic specimen was collected at Adjuntas by 
Sintenis. The common name is given by Bello. 
Plantain. See Musa paradisiaca. 
Plantain, Wild. See Heliconia. 
Plantanilla blanea. See Asclepias nivea._ 
Platanillo. See Asclepias cwrassavica. > 
Platanillo blanco. See Asclepias nivea. 
Platano. See Musa. 
Pluchea odorata. SALvia. : 
A composite shrub, 3 to 4 meters high, having a peculiar odor; found in all 
parts of the island, and used as a mild stimulant. (Stahl, 5: 122. 
Plum. See Spondias lutea. 
Plumbago capensis. 
An ornamental shrub cultivated in gardens at Yabucoa. (Sintenis.) 
Plumbago scandens. HIGUILLO. 
Family Plumbaginaceae; a shrubby trailer. The root is sometimes used as a 
blistering agent. Our plants are from Coamo Springs, where the above common 
name isin use. Bello calls this species ** meladillo.”’ 
Plumeria alba. TasBatrsBa. 
Family Apocynaceae; a shrub 3 to 4 meters high, having a milky juice. Found 
along the coast. Bello records the common name ‘“‘aleli cimarron.’’ (Stahl, 
6: 74.) 
A wild tree 30 to 35 feet (9 to 11 meters) high, with a rather straight trunk 6 to8 
inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in diameter. The wood is considered very good for 
certain classes of carpenter work that need both flexibility and resistance. It is 
yellowish white or light grayish yellow in color, marked with unequal undula- 
tions, giving the wood a rather attractive appearance. The texture is fibrous and 
compact and the grain fine. (Grosourdy, 2: 395.) 
Plumeria krugii. TABEIBA. 
A recently described species known only from Maricao. (Urban, Symb. 1: 387.) 
Plumeria obtusa. ALELi CIMARRON. 
A tree or shrub. (Stahl, 6:76.) 
Plumeria portoricensis. ALEL{ CIMARRON. 
Also called ** tabeiba:** a species recently described from a drawing by Krug, 
probably in the vicinity of Mayaguez. Said to be Plumeria obtusata of Bello. 
(Urban, Symb. 1: 387.) 
Plumeria rubra. FRANGIPANI. ALELI. 
A shrub or small tree, 4 to 5 meters high, having a milky juice. Cultivated in 
gardens on account of the extremely fragrant flowers, and sometimes called the 
West Indian red jasmine. The name *‘ frangipani”’ or ** frangipanni’’ is supposed 
to have been applied to this and other species of Plumeria on account of the resem- 
blance to that of a perfume compounded in the middle ages from a large number 
of ingredients by an Italian nobleman of that name. It is not known that any ~ 
attempt has been made to extract a perfume from the flowers of Plumeria. 
a 

