FLORA VITIENSIS. 229 
XIII. Ricinus, Tournef. Inst. p. 532. t. 307, 1719; Müll. Arg. in DC. l.c. p. 1016. Calyx 
utriusque sexus valvaris. Petala et discus utriusque sexus 0. Stamina in receptaculo plano-convexo 
(oc) in fasciculos distinctos oc-andros superne multoties dichotome ramosos connata ; antherz 2-locu- 
lares, didymo-globoss, tota longitudine dorso adnate.  Rudimentum ovarii 0. Ovarii loculi 1- 
ovulati, l anterior bracteam spectans. Fructus capsularis. Semina carunculata, copiose albuminosa. 
Albumen oleosum. Cotyledones ample. Radicula brevis.— Planta arborescens, speciosissima, 
macrophylla, glabra. Folia 4-3-pedalia, alterna, longe petiolata, peltata, palmatinervia, palmatim 
7-11-lobata, dentata, herbacea, membranacea ; petioli pagina superiore ob margines confluentes obso- 
leta teretes facti, in linea ventrali s. suturali marginum tuberculis subglanduliformibus onusti. 
Flores monoici, in racemos contracto-paniculiformes, inferne d , superne 9 , terminales v. innovatione 
ramorum lateralium suboppositifolios factos dispositi, majusculi, numerosi, myriandri, 1-bracteati, 
opposite 2-bracteolati; bracteolarum axillz aut steriles aut altera alternatim fertilis aut ramulum 
continuans, unde evolutio ramorum racemi circinalis. Pedicelli cirea medium articulati. 
1. R. communis, Linn.; Müll. Arg. in DC. l.c. p. 1017.—Nomen vernac. Vitiense, * Bele ni 
papalagi” (i.e. foreign Bele, Bele being Hibiscus esculentus, Linn., which the Ricinus somewhat re- 
sembles in leaf).—Naturalized in many parts of Viti (Seemann! n. 401). Also collected in the 
Hawaiian Islands (Barclay !). 
The Castor-oil plant does not exist in the older collections, nor is it alluded to by the older botanists 
as found in any part of tropical Polynesia. I saw it far in the interior of Viti Levu. No oil is as yet ex- 
tracted from the seeds. 
XIV. Manihot, Plum. Cat. 20, pro parte; Müll. Arg. in DC. l.e. p. 1057. Calyx utriusque 
sexus imbricativus. Petala suppressa. Discus utriusque sexus evolutus, florum d intrastaminalis ; 
lobi laciniis calycis oppositi. Stamina in receptaculo haud elevato circa discum inserta, interiora 
cum laciniis calycis alternantia. Antherz 2-rimosz. Ovarii loculi 1-ovulati, 1 posterior, 2 antico- 
laterales, bracteam spectantes. Fructus capsularis. Semina carunculata. Cotyledones latz.— 
Plante herbaceze, grandes, raro arbores, vulgo inferne brevius v. longius lignescentes v. omnino 
herbaceze, nunc tuberosz, seepius glabræ et glaucescentes. Folia in sinu baseos sepe leviter retror- 
sum peltato-producta. 
1. M. palmata, Müll. Arg. in DC. 1. c. p. 1062 ; inflorescentiis ex ima basi divisis longirameis 
panieuliformibus; bracteis parvis lanceolatis; calyce extus glabro evoluto majusculo; antheris 
pluries longioribus quam latis; disco filamentis et connectivis glabris; ovario levius costulato-angu- 
loso; capsulis subglobosis exalatis superne leviter angulosis. 
Var. Aipi, Müll. Arg. ; foliis 5- (7-3-) partitis; laciniis obovato-lanceolatis v. elliptico-lanceolatis 
subtus plus minusve glaucis. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Yabia ni papalagi” (i.e. foreign arrow-root). 
—Cultivated by the white settlers on account of its edible root (Seemann ! n. 399). 
This plant is quite a recent introduction, and the natives have as yet not taken to its cultivation. 
Captain Bedford Pim, in his * Gate of the Pacifie London, 1863, p. 77, publishes a note on it, which 
has a direct bearing on Polynesia :—“ Intoxication is common at certain seasons amongst the Indians of 
Nicaragua. The liquor is made from the cassava, in the same manner as Cook found the Sandwich and other 
South Sea Islanders making ava or kava; it is chewed by the women, after boiling the roots; about one- 
third is chewed, the rest pounded ; then hot water and cane-juice is poured upon it, and after two days’ 
fermentation it is ready. It looks like buttermilk, and is sour, but very strong. Can there be any philo- 
logical connection between the American terms ‘ Cassava’ or * Kasava’ and the Polynesian * Kava’ or ‘ Ava,’ 
supposed to be derived from the Sanscrit * Kasya’ (= intoxicating beverages)? Strange to add, preparing 
an intoxicating liquor from the cassava, or yuka (Manihot Aipi, Pohl), is also practised in the interior of 
[PUBLISHED OCTOBER 1, 1867.] 2H 
