70 



The only species in the Hawaiian Islands, and in many other 

 parts of Polynesia, is C. inophyUum, the Hawaiian kamani. In 

 Tahiti it is called tamanu; in Samoa, tefaii; in Fiji, dilo; in the 

 Philippine Islands, palo maria; in the East Indies, pinagah or 

 "Borneo mahogany"; in Ceylon, domba; in India, iiiidi or "Alex- 

 andrian laurel." In Malaya the name bctan or bentangar is ap- 

 plied indiscriminately to about 20 species of calophyllum. In 

 India the name doon is given to various species of calophyllum, 

 which are used for masts and spars. 



The kamani ranges throughout Asia and Polynesia, from East 

 Africa, to India, Malaya, Polynesia and Haw^aii. The Hawaiian 

 Islands represent the northernmost Pacific boundary of the ka- 

 mani's range, and its presence in these Islands is undoubtedly 

 due to human agency. ^ In the Hawaiian Islands it occurs here 

 and there along the shores and lowlands of all the large islands 

 of the group. It is absent, however, from the little isles and 

 atolls that are scattered along an axis of some 1500 miles to the 

 westward of the main group, and is also absent from the lesser 

 isles of the main group itself. These absences are not due pri- 

 marily to unfavorable soil or climatic conditions, for the kamani 

 thrives on dry, sandy beaches where little else will grow. The 

 kamani seeds are buoyant and admirably adapted for dissemi- 

 nation by ocean currents. The absence of self -planted individ- 

 uals or groves on the smaller islands above mentioned indicates 

 clearly, as do many other biological evidences, that the Hawai- 

 ian currents are practically non-effective as seed carriers. The 

 kamani in the Hawaiian Islands is found only where it has been 

 planted (by the Hawaiians) or in the immediate vicinity of such 

 settlements. 



It grows along both the windward and leeward beaches, and on 

 lowlands up to an elevation of 1000 feet. Although it is usually 

 thought of as a littoral tree, it is not strictly so, and reaches 

 noble dimensions in the lower valleys and slopes. It will grow 

 on very dry coasts, but strictly xerophytic, although its foliage 

 shows strong xerophytic characteristics. It grows best under 

 conditions of moderate rainfall (20-60 inches), relatively high 

 temperatures, and abundant insolation. It is not tolerant of 

 shade, even in its juvenile stages, and its foliage is well adapted 

 to withstand the brilliant illumination that is so characteristic of 

 the Hawaiian strand. The kamani was formerly much more 

 abundant along Hawaiian coasts than at present; its decimation 

 has been due to a variety of influences — the disappearance of the 

 native Hawaiian, the ravages of cattle and goats, the felling of 

 the trees for timber, without replanting, and the constant en- 

 croachments of civilization.^ A famous grove of kamani still 



2 See MacCaiigliey, Yaughan : Food Plauts of the Aueient HaT^aiians. 

 Scientific Monthly, 4:75-80, Jan., 1917. 



3 See MacCaughev, A^anghan : Survey of the Hawaiian Land Flora, Botan- 

 ical Gazette, 64:89-114, Aug., 1917. 



Vegetation of Hawaiian Lava Flows. Botanical Gazette, 



64:386-420, Nov., 1917. 



