542 THE BOTANY OF FUNAFUTI, ELLICE GROUP, 



DC. Prod., and Fl. Vitiensis is very brief, but I believe the Funa- 

 futi plant is C. hirsuta. 



PORTULACE^. 



PoRTULACA OLERACEA, Linn. — Called " Lau," which also signi- 

 fies "leaf." 



An allied plant, bearing the same name, occurs at Funafala, 

 one of the northern islands of the Atoll, but I have no specimens. 



It is apparently not used for food of man or beast in Funafuti. 

 The seed was largely used for food b}^ the aborigines of Australia, 

 and is still used by those of the far interior, while the plant 

 itself is eaten readily by stock. 



GUTTIFEil.aE. 



Calophyllum inophyllum, Linn. — " Fetau," the name also 

 used in Samoa. 



This is the Tamana or Tamanu of many Polynesian islands, 

 and is a name well known to Europeans. " Tamanu " is also 

 applied to Maba sp. in Samoa. 



There appears to be little to add to Seemann's full account 

 of this tree. Locally it is used for building purposes and for 

 making wooden dishes; there are but few trees on the main 

 islet, but many more on the northern and western ones 



Flowers abundantly with white petals and abundant yellow 

 stamens, with glossy thick green leaves (Mrs. David's note). 



Sida rhombifolia, Linn., var. — "Akata"; Mr. Finckh's name 

 is " Pula." 



Recognised as a foreign plant by the natives; much fancied by 

 them for wreaths. 



This plant has the leaves of aS'. cordifolia, Linn., but the carpels 

 have not the long awns which generally distinguish the species. 



Perhaps this is the same as the awnless species from Tahiti 

 referred to by Seemann (Fl. Vit. p. 16). 



Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, Linn. — " Aute"; known by a similar 

 name in Samoa. 



" Only one plant of this noticed on main islet of Funafuti, 

 close by a ruined hut belonging to a Samoan trader" (Mrs. David). 



