BY J. H. MAIDEN. 551 



The natives are not afraid of the sting of this nettle {Cf. 

 Seemann). 



Two species of Fleurya are known in Samoa as "Ogogo." See 

 Macaranga. M. invohccraia and Fleurya resemble each other 

 superficially. 



PiPTURUs VELUTINUS, Wedd. — " Fou tagata." Perhaps the 



Broussoyietia papyri/era of Hedley {op. cit. p. 34). Used as a fibre 



plant. Makes the strongest fishing lines, to which manufacture 



it is chiefly put. 



AMARYLLIDEiE. 



Crinum asiaticum, Linn. — '' Tapua." 



This plant is said by Samoans to indicate the land most suit- 

 able for cultivating Breadfruit. 



"The trader said he introduced this plant from Samoa. Its 



flowers are very much valued by the youths and maidens, who 



bind the long narrow white perianth segments into wreaths " 



(Mrs. David). 



TACCACE.S:. 



Tacca PINNATIFIDA, Forst. — The flower is known as "Niupiu," 

 and the whole plant, including the tuber, as " Vatia " (" Vadia," 

 Finckh). 



The flowering stalk is 6 J ft. long ("3 ft. high, flower on 

 stem 4-5 ft." Finckh). The tuber makes excellent arrowroot, 

 which is well known but seldom made in Funafuti. 



It is the " Masoa" of Samoa. In that group this arrowroot is 



used by the natives chiefly in the preparation for sick people of 



" Vai solo," which is a mixture of the young coco-nut oil and 



grated arrowroot. 



LILIACE^. 



CORDYLINE TERMINALIS, Kunth. " Ti." 



Yery plentiful. The leaves used to be employed for covering 

 up the native ovens. The roots were formerly much used for 

 food on Funafuti.* For an account of the uses of this plant, see 

 Seemann (Fl. Vit. p. 311). 



* But since the introduction of taro and bananas the natives have almost 

 abandoned the cultivation of this plant because of the hard work it entails. 

 (Mrs. David). 



