550 THE BOTANY OF FUNAFUTI, ELLICE GROUP, 



lAURACEiE. 



Hernandia peltata, Meissn. — "Puka," ("Buka,"Mr. Finckh). 



The " Buka " of some other Polynesian islands. The " Pu'-a " 

 of Samoa. Not to be confused with Gardenia. The inflated 

 involucel is of a pale green colour. In old times the fruits were 

 made into charcoal, which was used as a pigment for tattooing. 

 The wood is used for making canoes. 



Cassytha filiformis, Linn. — "Tetai." 



This leafless parasite is used for streamers for purposes of 

 personal decoration. 



EUPHORBIACEiE. 



Macaranga sp. — "Ogogo." {^ee Fleurya). 



Apparently very near J/, involucrata, Baill., but the specimens 

 too imperfect for absolute determination. For a list of South 

 Sea Island Macarangas see ' Fl. Vitiensis,' p. 228. 



URTICE5:. 



Ficus sp.— "Felo." "Tefelo," about 20 feet high (C. E. Finckh). 

 ^' Shiny leaves and yellow fruits." 



The specimens at my disposal do not permit me to determine 

 this fig with absolute certainty. It is apparently not more 

 nearly allied to any Indian species than to the Australian F. 

 eugenioides, F.v.M. The receptacle is too much advanced in fruit 

 to admit of examination of the male and female perianths. 



Mrs. David sa3^s that the fruits, which are about the size of a 

 marble, are occasionally used for food in Funafuti, but there are 

 very few trees. The children string the figs together for neck- 

 laces. 



Artocarpus incisa, Forst. — " Mei fenua muli." Perhaps the 

 name of one of the numerous cultivated varieties of the Bread- 

 fruit. Breadfruit in general is known in Samoa as " XJlu " and 

 in Fiji as " Uto. ' 



Fleurya ruderalis. Gaud. (?) — DC, Prod. xvi. Part i. p. 74. 

 An imperfect specimen. '* Luna." 



