oer — REESEN 
THE FLORA OF RAROTONGA. 267 
up the valleys to gather the fruit of the mountain plantain, which grows abundantly 
near their sources, but they hardly ever go further. In fact, it is most unusual for 
either natives or Europeans to climb any of the mountains, and I was assured that the 
highest peak, Mount Taitukura, had not been ascended for at least eight years previous 
to my visit. And a very little inspection proves that the vegetation is in its primitive 
state, and has never been interfered with by man, save perhaps on some of the lower 
slopes. 
Two trees stretch far up the valleys and ascend the hills to a height of at least 800 ft., 
usually composing the major portion of the forest. These are Hibiscus tiliaceus and 
Aleurites moluccana, the latter being perhaps the most abundant. Of other trees by far 
the most interesting is a new species of Fitchia, a very singular genus of Composite 
hitherto believed to be confined to the Society Islands, from whence three species are 
known. The present one, which I have described under the name of E speciosa, is a 
very handsome small tree with fine bold glossy foliage and large orange-red heads. It 
is abundant on all the mountains, and above 500 ft. forms a considerable portion of the 
forest. Other interesting plants are Homalium acuminatum, Eleocarpus rarotongensis ; 
Xylosma gracile; Weinmannia rarotongensis, allied to W. samoensis; Pittosporum 
rarotongense, with the habit of the Fijian P. arborescens; a new Myrsine; an Alyxia 
of the type of A. stellata, but differing in the fruit; and, lastly, a very distinct new 
species of Sclerotheca, a genus which, like Fitehia, had hitherto been supposed to be 
limited to Tahiti. Among previously well-known plants the following are abundant :— 
Fagrea Berteriana, Terminalia Catappa, Alphitonia excelsa, Alstonia costata, and 
Leucosyke corymbulosa. Metrosideros villosa (M. polymorpha, Gaud.), a species which 
is apparently plentiful in all the mountainous islands of the Pacific, from the Sandwich 
Islands on the north to the Kermadec Group in the south, is always found near the tops 
of the rocky peaks and along the crest of the ridges. It is often accompanied by 
Ascarina lanceolata, and more rarely by Cypholophus macrocephalus and Homalanthus 
pedicellatus. 
Among shrubby plants perhaps the most plentiful are Melastoma denticulatum and 
Mussenda frondosa. Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, long supposed to be peculiar to the 
Sandwich Islands, but now known from several parts of Polynesia, is not- uncommon. 
Vaccinium cereum occurs on all the higher peaks. Other noteworthy species are 
Wikstræmia viridiflora; a handsome Cyrtandra, apparently undescribed ; a new Irora, 
allied to Z. fragrans; and a new Coprosma. 
In many places the chief undergrowth is formed by a species of Freycinetia. It has 
much of the appearance of the New Zealand F. Banksii, but is a smaller plant, with 
smaller and much less rigid leaves. Unfortunately neither flowers nor fruit could be 
obtained at the tıme of my visit. But of climbing plants by far the most prominent is 
Entada scandens, which sometimes covers acres of the forest with a dense canopy of green. 
Itssenormous cable-like stems and huge pendent pods are sure to attract the notice of 
the most unobservant person. Other species deserving mention are Vigna retusa, 
Cesalpinia Bondue, and Derris uliginosa. 
Orchids are not uncommon ; but few of them were in flower at the time of my visit. 
