BY J. H. MAIDEN. 543 



According to the Rev. G. H. Nobbs (who spent the greater 

 part of his life at Tahiti and Pitcairn), the Paper-Mulberry or 

 Tappa (Broussonetia papyri/era) is also known as " Aute." In 

 that case perhaps the word signifies a fibre-plant, which both 

 Hibiscus and Broussonetia of course are. See Lady Belcher's 

 " Mutineers of the Bounty" (p. 387). 



Mrs. David's note, made at the time of collection, is "Stamens 

 deep yellow, flower bufl'-colour, crimson at bottom of cup." 



Mrs. David states that there is no red Hibiscus on Funafuti, 

 and there seems to be no doubt that the plant belongs to the 

 widely diffused and somewhat variable //. Bosa-sinensis. De 

 Candolle (Prod. i. 448) states that the flowers of this species vary 

 from purple to white and yellow (" Variat flore purpureo albo et 

 flavo "). I cannot detect any botanical differences in the forms. 

 The yellow-flowering form is sparingly cultivated in Sydney. 



Hibiscus tiliaceus, Linn. — "Fou fafine." Called " Fautu " 

 in Samoa. The "Au" or Lemon Hibiscus of Wyatt Gill. 



The bast is used for making the " takai " or men's gala dress. 

 It is very largely used for similar purposes and for cordage in 

 the islands. The timber is used by the Samoans for knees in 

 boat-building. 



Thespesia populnea, Corr. — " Milo." The name likewise 

 given in Tonga and Samoa. Wyatt Gill gives the name as 

 "Miro" in Rarotonga, but r and 1 are of course more or less 

 interchangeable in the South Sea Islands. 



Wyatt Gill states that the leaves are heated over a fire and 

 used for a poultice in Rarotonga. The timber is chiefly used for 

 boat-building in Samoa. In Funafuti the principal uses are for 

 house-building, wooden pillows, tuais (coco-nut graters) and 

 boxes. 



Mr. Finckh's note is — " 15-20 feet high, along swamp near 

 village. Trunk about 5-6 ft.; then many shoots upwards." 



TILIACE5:. 



Triumfetta procumbens, Forst. — Tolo-tolo. The "Mauto 

 f utai " of Samoa. 



