COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 239 
Serjania triternata. See Serjania lucida. 
Serra-suela. See Thouinia portoricensis. 
Perhaps another spelling of ‘* cerasula.”’ 
Sesamum indicum. See Sesamum orientale. 
Sesamum orientale. SESAME. AJONJOLI. 
This well-known tropical plant has received, in addition to the above, a confus- 
ing variety of names, such as benne, benni, benny, gingili, gingeley, gingely, and 
gingelly, teel, and til. The Spanish name is also spelled ‘‘aljonjoli.’’ Sesame was 
originally a native of India, but is now cultivated throughout the Tropics and can 
be grown successfully in almost any region where three or four months of warm 
moist weather can be assured. Loose and well-drained soils with plenty of lime 
are most desirable, and nitrogenous fertilizers are said to have a very pronounced 
effect upon the yield and the rapidity of growth. 
Sesame is cultivated for the sake of the oily seeds which form a staple article 
of diet in all the countries of tropical Asia, in many regions second only to rice 
and in some exceeding it In importance. The roasted seeds have a very pleasant 
nutty flavor and may be eaten without other preparation, but they also appear 
as an important ingredient in endless kinds of soups, pastries, confections, and 
other dishes. 
Sesame oil is, however, the principal product and the object of the export trade 
to Europe. The oil answers the same purpose as olive oil and is largely used as 
an adulterant or substitute in the same way as cotton-seed oil, and was formerly 
second only to cocoanut oil in the amount imported into Europe. Marseilles is by 
far the largest center for receiving and extracting the oil, the annual importations 
reaching 175,000,000 pounds. From the seeds can be extracted from 40 to 50 per 
cent of their weight in oil, and the residuum is in regular demand as oil cake for 
use as fodder and fertilizer. 
Only the white variety of sesame was observed in Porto Rico. This is considered 
to yield oil of the best color and flavor, though a black variety extensively culti- 
vated in India is said to yield a larger quantity. In Porto Rico the culture of 
sesame is carried on mostly as an incidental crop intermixed with corn, beans, and 
bananas. On the south side of the island a few well-kept though small fields of 
sesame were noticed. Itis planted in rows 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 centimeters) 
apart, with the seeds3 inches (7 centimeters) apart in the row, to be later thinned 
to 18 inches when the plants reach a height of 3 to 4inches. It is considered 
important that the ground should be in a very finely pulverized condition, and 
repeated plowing is practiced in India. Very shallow sowing is advised, and 
careful hoeing and weeding, but this need not be long continued, since the sesame 
grows with extreme rapidity and soon shades the ground completely. The crop 
is allowed to ripen thoroughly, but cutting takes place before the capsules begin 
to open. A scythe or sickle may be used, the plants being cut off near the ground 
and allowed to dry further in small piles. 
Sesbania. See Sesbania occidentalis. 
Sesbania grandiflora. See Agati grandiflora. 
Sesbania occidentalis. SESBANIA. 
Family Viciaceae. A shrub 2 to 3 meters high, found along the west coast. 
Flowers in March; legumes, 10 to 12 centimeters long. (Stahl, 3: 30.) 
Sesbania sericea. 
A woody herb, with a long slender legume, reported from Anasco; also collected 
by Heller near Mayaguez. 
Shaddock. See Citrus decwmana. 
Sicana odorifera. PEPINO ANGOLO. 
Family Cucurbitaceae; a vine bearing a large yellowish red or purple fruit 12 
or 18 inches (30 to 45 centimeters) long and 8 or 4 inches (7 to 10 centimeters) in 
