FLORA VITIENSIS. . 51 
carpus Anacardium. Mr. Pritchard and myself first heard of its existence during our visit to the southern 
shores of Viti Levu, in July, 1860, and on the banks of a river were fortunate enough to obtain specimens 
of the tree, proving it to be the Oncocarpus Vitiensis, A. Gray. The tree, when fully developed, is about 
sixty feet high, bearing large oblong leaves and a very curious corky fruit, somewhat resembling the seed 
of the walnut. On handling the specimens a drop of the juice fell on the hand of one of our party, and 
instantly produced a pain equal to that caused by contact with a red-hot poker. Mr. E. A. Egerstrém, a 
Swedish gentleman, residing on the island of Naigani, had been still more unfortunate in his accidental 
contact with the Kau Karo; and on visiting his hospitable roof on the 2nd July, 1860, he was just reco- 
vering from the effects of the accident. Having desired a native carpenter to procure him a spar suitable 
for a flag-staff, one was brought of Kau Karo, about forty-two feet long, and twenty-two inches in girth at 
the foot, having a white wood and a green bark, not unlike that of the Vau dina (Hibiscus tiliaceus, Linn.), 
and light-coloured when peeled off. Ignorant of the poisonous properties of the tree, Mr. Egerstróm him- 
self peeled off the bark, and found the sap beneath it very plentiful. “In the evening,"—I quote Mr. 
Egerstróm's own words, in a letter to the British Consul,—* I was troubled with considerable itching about 
my legs, and every part of my body which had come in contact with the spar, especially about the abdomen 
and lower parts, having sat across the tree when barking it. All the parts affected became red and 
inflamed, breaking out in innumerable pustules, which emitted a yellowish matter with a nauseous smell. 
The itching was exceedingly painful and irritating, and my arms having been bare when operating upon 
the tree, also became inflamed and broke out as already described. The neighbouring natives, who came 
to watch my proceedings, now warned me, too late, not to touch the tree, as it was a poisonous one, and 
advised my keeping quiet and not to touch or scratch the parts inflamed. This advice, however, I could 
not follow, the irritation for several days being excessive. I employed no remedy, but bathed daily, as 
usual, in fresh water, although advised to the contrary ; and did not get rid of the injurious effects of the 
itch-wood for nearly two months.” 
Mr. Storck states (Bonplandia, vol. x. p. 296), that in climbing up this tree, after the natives refused 
to do so, his dress became stained black. As an allied plant, the Semecarpus Anacardium, produces the 
marking-ink of commerce, it is not improbable that the nut of this tree may be similarly employed. 
The properties which Vieillard ascribes to the New Caledonian Nolé (Semecarpus atra, Vieill., Rhus 
atra, Forst.) are so very much like those just described, that the identity of the two plants receives addi- 
tional support from them. He says: “The milky juice of this tree, and the gum-resin which comes from 
it, are a poison well known to the natives, and unfortunately too frequently employed by them. The same 
milk mixed with water yields a fine black dye. People, whether natives or foreigners, who touch the Nolé 
frequently suffer from cutaneous eruptions, difficult to heal. Experience has taught us that the most 
effectual remedy is that of the New Caledonians, which consists in reducing charcoal to powder, and apply- 
ing a sufficiently thick coating to the affected parts. On the twelfth or fifteenth day the scab falls off, and 
the skin, perfectly healed, presents no trace of a scar. The wood of the Nolé is soft and easy to work, 
and, notwithstanding the inconvenience experienced in felling it, is much sought after for canoes. It is 
in the dry trunk of this tree the New Caledonians find the larva of the Malledon costatus, Montron, of 
which they are very fond. The fruit is erect, fleshy, as large as a plum, lengthened transversely into a 
woody kidney-shaped nut. The fleshy disk, which is of a beautiful red when ripe, is much esteemed by 
the natives, who use it extensively; bruised in water, it makes a fermentable liquor, which somewhat 
resembles cider. The nut, like that of tlie Acajou, contains a caustic, very inflammable oil; the kernel, 
when boiled, is edible.” . 
IV. Spondias, Linn. Gen. n. 377; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. p. 426. Flores polygami. Calyx 
parvus, deciduus, 4—5-fidus, lobis leviter imbricatis (valvatis fide Blumei). Petala 4—5, patentia, sub- 
valvata. Discus cupularis, latiusculus, crenatus. Stamina 8-10, sub disco inserta. Ovarium sessile, 
liberum, 4—5-loculare; styli 4—5, superne conniventes; ovula in loculis solitaria, pendula. Drupa 
carnosa, putamine osseo apicem versus foraminato crasso 1—5-loculari, loculis erectis v. divergentibus. 
Semina pendula, testa membranacea; embryo rectus, cotyledonibus elongatis plano-convexis, radicula 
brevi supera.—Arbores foliis valde versus apices ramulorum confertis, alternis, imparipinnatis, foliolis 
oppositis sepius longe acuminatis; paniculis terminalibus, patentibus, multifloris ; floribus parvis, 
breviter pedicellatis; fructibus sepe pomiformibus.— Cytherea, Wight et Arn. Prod. 173. Evia, 
Comm. ex Juss. Gen. 373. i ye o : 
1. S. dulcis, Forst. Plant. Escul. p. 32; Prodr. n. 198; petiolis teretibus, foliolis 11-13 ovali- 
oblongis acuminatis serratis; drupæ loculis divergentibus, radicula centrifaga.—Forst. Icon. (ined.) 
(t. 144; Parkins. Drawings of Tahit. Plants (ined.), t. 49.—Evia dulcis, Comm. ex Juss.; Blum. Mus. 
: | po H2 
