and Botany of the Sandwich Islands. 261" 



when young of a beautiful red colour, and the foliage has a 

 peculiar appearance, apparently from minute glands situated 

 on the upper and under surfaces. There is also a shrub (pro- 

 bably a BasszVz), called ohava, the seeds of which yield a red 

 dye, used by the natives to stain their cheeks and fingers. A 

 species of Gnaphalium, called poina by the natives, was also 

 abundant. 



Of the uwara, or sweet potatoes (Convolvulus Batatas et 

 var.), which are much cultivated at the Sandwich Islands, 

 there are seventeen varieties. 



On the declivities of the hills, and in the ravines, the tui 

 tui, or candle nut tree (Aleurites triloba) is seen abundant ; 

 the whiteness of its foliage rendering it a conspicuous object. 

 This whiteness is occasioned by a fine white powder on the 

 upper surface of the leaf, which is readily removed by the 

 finger. Under it the leaf is found of a dark green colour. 

 The young foliage is thickly covered with this white powder ; 

 the older leaves have little, or are entirely destitute of it. The 

 foliage of this tree varies much in form, depending on the 

 age of the tree or leaves. The flowers grow in erect clusters, 

 are small, white, and possessed of very little fragrance ; the 

 fruit is of small size, globular, rough externally, and contains 

 oily nuts, which, when baked and strung on a reed, are used by 

 the natives of most of the Polynesian Islands as a substitute 

 for candles or lamps, and burn with a clear and brilliant flame. 

 The tree is branchy, attains an elevation of 30 ft. in height, 

 and a circumference of 3 or 4 ft., the timber being of soft 

 quality is useless, except as firewood. A gum is yielded by 

 this tree, both spontaneously, and on incisions being made in 

 the trunk. It is of a yellowish colour, inodorous and taste- 

 less ; the natives chew it, but the suspicious family [£uphorbi- 

 dcece'] to which the tree belongs would render caution requisite 

 in its use. I tried it, however, as a mucilage for the suspen- 

 sion of some balsams, without any ill effects arising from it. 



The turmeric plant [Curcuma longa), called oreina by the 

 natives, is abundant wild ; the root, as well as that of the 

 noni (Morinda dtrifolia), is used for dyeing their native cloth 

 of a bright yellow colour. At Tauai or Atoi (which I visited 

 on the 28th of January, 1830) I collected a delicate and beau- 

 tiful species of Ipomoe\i covered with a fine pubescence (Ipo- 

 mce'a pubescens ?) ; it is called mohihi by the natives ; it grows 

 in rocky soil, and bears white flowers. There is also a small 

 species of Convolvulus, bearing small light blue flowers, and 

 called koro koro by the natives. 

 • London, Ja?i. 20, I S32, 



- s 3 



