T \ 1 K A M I. R I C A i\ n ( ) r A X I ST 5 



the more numerous and forms extensive beds far up the Fan- 

 tana valley where it narrows. The only "dandelion" I have 

 toiuul is bright red, with branched and somewhat leafy stems 

 that are several flowered. There is also a faded i)ink edition 

 of this same flower, mostly on the eastern side of the Island. 

 At one point of the shore road near Papeete, I found Sonchiis 

 in a verdant spot at the foot of a bluff where it grows with a 

 double-blossomed fabaceous vine, the dayflower and others. 

 I have since seen it elsewhere. A blue vervain is common, 

 quite bushy in favorable locations and bearing florets which 

 seem large for this genus. There are two species of Bap- 

 t{sa{?) just as in the Gulf States, one slim-spiked, the other 

 larger flow'ered. 



The common Convolvulus is small-flowered and heart- 

 lca\ c(l with a concealed, deep-red center. The sweet potato of 

 the islands is also a Convolvulus w'ith purplish pink flowers. 



Another species has yellow blossoms borne in clusters 

 which at a little distance are in appearance not unlike a large 

 Chrysanthemum. Still another grows on the sands of the 

 beaches and has large somewhat fleshy round leaves and large 

 l)urplish-pink flowers. A heart-leaved species of the same 

 shade grows along roadsides. 



A plant almost exactly like Mitchclla repens, but with 

 larger and more succulent fruit, grows in moist woods, espec- 

 ially near waterfalls. A certain tenacious plant known locally 

 as false tobacco is a troublesome species. I have often seen it 

 near Houston Texas. There arc at least two Bupatorium 

 species. I think, in Tahiti. A herb-like or somewhat bushy 

 mallow with large red-centered yellow nodding blossoms grows 

 commonly along the Papeete-Faaa stretch of beach road. In 

 one spot onlv, not far from a deserted residence, I found some 

 very atractive deep-blue pea blossoms corresponding to Cli- 



