18 FLORA VITIENSIS. 
6. H. (Paritium) tricuspis, Cav. Diss. vol. iii. p. 152. t. 55. fig. 2; fruticosus, inermis; foliis 
incanis trilobis, lobis lanceolatis subdentatis; pedunculis axillaribus subbifloris, terminalibus subra- 
cemosis, bracteolis 9 basi coalitis; capsulz loculis co-spermis; seminibus glabris.—DC. Prodr. vol. i. 
p. 453; Parkins. Drawings of Tahit. Pl. Ined. t. 63.—H. hastatus, Linn. fil. Suppl. p. 310; Forst. 
Prodr. n. 265; Icon. (ined.) t. 194. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Vau dra ;" Tahitense, test. Pritchard, 
** Purau-teruere."— Very generally in the group, growing along with H. tiliaceus (Seemann! n. 26). 
Also collected in Tahiti (Banks and Solander! Forster !). 5 
7. H. (Paritium) tiliaceus, Linn. Spec. 976; Cav. Diss. vol. iii. t. 55. fig. 1; fruticosus v. 
arborescens, inermis; folis subrotundo-cordatis, acuminatis, crenatis subtus cano-pubescentibus in 
nervis 1-5 poris linearibus instructis ; bracteolis 10 basi coalitis ; capsule loculis co-spermis, seminibus 
glabris.—DC. Prodr. vol. i. p. 454; Pariti, Rheed. Mal. vol. i. t. 30. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Vau 
dina;” Tahitiense, teste Solander, * Purau."—Very common in the group, especially near the sea 
(Seemann! n. 24). Also collected in the Sandwich (Seemann ! n. 1724; Nuttall! Barclay !), Society 
(Banks and Solander! Forster!), Tongan (Sir E. Home! Harvey !), and Samoan Islands (U.S. 
Expl. Exped.), and in the Isle of Pines (M‘Gillivray! Milne!). 
Var. purpurascens, Seem. ; Paritium purpurascens, Seem. in Bonpl. vol. ix. p. 254; arborescens ; 
ramulis foliisque purpurascentibus.— Nomen vernac. “ Vau damadamu " (i.e. the red Hibiscus).—In 
company with the true H. tiliaceus, but generally growing more inland; it may possibly be a distinct 
species (Seemann! n. 24). 
In most countries the fibre of this species is extensively used for cordage, but in Fiji the chief use 
made of it and that of the foregoing species (Z7. tricuspis) is for women's “ liku,” a dress consisting of a 
number of fringes attached to a waistband. The bark of these trees is stripped off, steeped in water, to 
render it soft and pliable, and to allow the fibres to separate. The fibres are either permitted to retain their 
original whiteness, or they are dyed yellow, red, or black. The yellow colour is imparted with turmeric, 
the black with mud and the leaves of the Tavola (Terminalia Catappa, Linn.), and the red with the bark of 
the Kura (Morinda citrifolia, Linn.) and that of the Tiri. The liku worn by the common women con- 
sists always of one row of fibres, all of the same colour; whilst those worn by ladies of rank are often com- 
posed of two or three rows or layers (flounces), every one of which exhibits a different colour. In Captain 
Cook’s time, the Tahitians used to suck the bark of this plant when the breadfruit season was unpro- 
ductive, and the New Caledonians ate it, as they probably still do. Conf. Forst. Plant. Escul. n. 45. 
IV. Thespesia, Corr. in Ann. Mus. Par. vol. ix. p. 290. t.8. fig. 2; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. 
p.208. Bracteole 3-5, parve v. decidus. Calyx truncatus, minute v. setaceo-dentatus, rarius 5-fidus. 
Columna staminea infra apicem dentatum (nunc antheriferum) filamenta oo exserens. Ovarium 5- 
loculare, loculis pauciovulatis ; stylus apice clavatus, 5-sulcus v. in ramos breves stigmatiferos erectos 
clavatos subdivisus. Capsula lignoso-coriacea, loculicide 5-valvis v. fere indehiscens. Semina obo- 
voidea, glabra v. tomentosa; cotyledones quam maxime complicate, radiculam brevem subrectam fere 
includentes, ssepius nigro-punctats.—Arbores v. herbe erectz ; foliis integerrimis v. angulato-lobatis ; 
floribus ssepius flavis, speciosis ; calycibus non conspicue punctatis, sed cotyledonibus insigniter nigro- 
punctatis in T. populnea et T. Lampade. 
1. T. populnea, Corr. in Ann. Mus. Par. vol. ix. p. 290. t. 8. fig. 2; arborea; foliis subrotun- 
dato-cordatis acuminatis; capsula subglobosa, indehiscenti, v. in valvas tardius solubili; seminibus 
crassis lanatis.— DC. Prodr. vol. i. p. 457; Parkins. Drawings of Tahit. Pl. (ined.) t. 67. Hibiscus 
populneus, Linn, Spec. 976; Cav. Diss. vol. iii. t. 56. fig. 1. H. bacciferus, Forst. Prodr. n. 260. 
Nomen vernac. Vitiense, ^Mulomulo;" Samoense et Tonguense, teste Pritchard, * Milo;" Tahit., 
teste Pritchard, * Miro" v. “ Amae.” —Common on the seashore all over the group (Seemann! n. 27; 
U. S. Expl Exped.). Also collected in Sandwich (Seemann! Macrae! Diell!), Marquesas (Bar- 
clay !), Society Islands (Banks and Solander!), and Easter Island (Forster!). Common on the 
coasts of tropical Australia and Asia. : 
