Section V 



"Substitute Water" Plants 



Thirst is just as much a problem to the lost service man as star- 

 vation. Throughout tropical America there are plants that con- 

 tain enough milky sap to serve as a substitute for water. The 

 organ cactus and cocoanut have been discussed -previously in 

 this manual, but are included in the following tables. Read 

 carefully the text under the illustrations of these plants. The 

 descriptions in the identification table are confined to the shape, 

 'size, and appearance of the colored part of the plant. 



Caution. — Use these tables merely as reference guides. 



Identification Table— "Substitute Water" Plants 



BROWN 



Plant part l 



Description 



Illus. 



No. 



Common name 



Page 

 No. 



p 





41 



Cocoanut 



54 











PINK 



Oval; covered with large leaf scales. 



35 



Organ cactus. 



44 



PURPLE 



Small; edible but sour. 



54 



Wild grape. 



69 



WHITE 



Fl_ 



Small; leaves thick, stiff, rough. 



55 



Water vine. 



70 



i F=Fruit; Fl=Flower. 



67 



