ENDEMIC PALMS OF HAWAII 327 



There are 30 to 80 drupes to each panicle, but many of these fall 

 while immature, so that old panicles have only 8 to 15 mature 

 drupes. 



Bailey, in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture (V: 2810) 

 separates the Hawaiian species from P. pacifica on the basis of 

 the color and size of the fruits, designating the Hawaiian forms 

 as 'Tniit yellow or red" and those of P. pacifica as "black- 

 purple." This is inaccurate, as many Hawaiian Pritchardias 

 have fruit which is black-purple. 



The fiTiits, both green and mature, are eaten by the wild rats. 

 These are introduced species which have become abundant in 

 the forests and have adapted themselves to a diet which is almost 

 wholly fmgivorous. The rats do not eat the pahn fruits in 

 sufficient quantities to seriously affect the dissemination of the 

 species. 



The Hawaiian name for P. Gaudichaudii H. Wendl. is loulu 

 Mo, for P. Martii H. Wendl. is loulu hiwa. The word loidu is 

 also used by the natives for umbrella; in olden times leaves were 

 used as protection against sun and rain. The Fijian natives 

 make fans (m masei or ai viu) from the Pritchardia leaves, 

 which are used only by the chiefs. The fans are 2 to 3 feet 

 across and have a border of flexible wood. They are used as 

 sun-shades, as well as to protect from the rain. The foreign 

 umbrellas are called ai viu by the Fijians. 



The loulus were formerly cultivated near native dwellings and 

 settlements throughout the islands. Today one may find rem- 

 nants — one or two neglected trees, here and there — of these 

 primitive groves. Not only were the albuminous kernels prized 

 as dehcacies, but the flexible immature leaves were utihzed in 

 the manufacture of hats and woven fans. The leaves were rarely 

 or never used for thatch, save for the construction of temporary 

 shelters in the forest. 



As the loulus are the only representatives of the pahn family 

 which are indigenous to Hawaii, they are pecufiarly appropriate 

 for planting as ornamentals. They grow well on the lowlands, 

 even in a rather dry atmosphere, providing they have abundant 

 irrigation. They flower and fruit, apparently as freely as in 

 their native habitats. 







