71 



their elioice have since decades been in a state of extermination, they have also 

 succnmbed to the ravages of goats and cattle. 



THE GENUS EOLLANDIA. 



It has already been stated tliat the genus RoUandia is practically confined to 

 the island of Oahn. A remarkable instance was the discovery by,C. N. Forbes, 

 of a FolhiHclia. which he named parvifolia, on the island of Kauai. No new 

 species save one, E. purpurcUifolia, were discovered by the writer on the island 

 of Oahu. It is confined to the dense forest of the Koolan range on the windward 

 side of the island along the P\inalnu stream and on the ridge leading to Ilauula. 

 RoUandia llumboldfiano, a remarkable species with either pure white or purple 

 flowers is partial to higher levels on the Koolau range especially JIanoa Valley 

 and Palolo. 



All Eollandiac are terrestrial. R. Ilwnholdtiana is rarely taller than 

 two feet and fleshy throughout, while RoUandia criapa which occurs in the 

 same locality reaches a height of five feet or even more. It does however descend 

 into the valleys at an elevation of about 800-1000 feet. The Pnnaluu mountains 

 are a veritable paradise for RoUandia; in the interior ravines, perfectly pro- 

 tected from, the wind, at an altitude of about 1200 feet, and an enormous rain- 

 fall, RoUandia caJijcina and R. crispa develop a wonderful crown of leaves, sev- 

 eral feet in diameter; the.y grow in large numbers forming a society by them- 

 selves, but often in company with, Platydesma cornutum, Lysimacliia Forbesi, 

 Viola oaJntcnsis. Musa, Labordia, Anocchtocliilits f:aiidwiccnsis. PhijUiiMecjia, 

 Kadiia, etc. 



Like Delissea. Kollamlia has been rather disappointing as no new species 

 have been discovered save the two mentioned. The discovery of the Kauai 

 species is however extraordinary. On the eastern end of Oahu, especially in 

 Palolo Valley, there occurs a very narrow-leaved species, which Hillebraud 

 referred to RoUandia longiflora. To the writer's mind it certainly is sufficiently 

 distinct to be a species. RoUandia longiflora has lobed leaves in the young state, 

 while RoUandia angustifolia has entire leaves even in the perfectly .young state. 



Sufficient has been said aboixt Lobelia, Trematolobclia and Brigliamia in the 

 general discussion which need not be reiterated here. The writer only wishes 

 he were gifted to express himself in such a way as to enable him to give a word 

 picture of the regions which Lobelia Kauaensis and Lobelia gloria-nionlis inhabit. 

 These vast summit bogs are uncomfortable to visit at any time of the year, as 

 torrential downpours, high winds and low temperature are apt to make collect- 

 ing if not difficult at least highly uncomfortable. The writer ascended the 

 summit of Mt. Waialeale on Kauai three times, the last time with Prof. A. S. 

 Hitchcock of Washington, D. C, who confessed that it was about the hardest 

 trip he had ever undertaken. The annual rainfall on that mi)untain is over six 

 hundred inches; the vegetation is of course stunted. Gyperaceac occur, like the 

 tussock formation of Oreobulus fureatufi, also Panieum monticola: in these we find 

 Drosera, Acaena, Sanicula, Vaccinium, creeping Metrosideros, Carex montis 

 Eela, and rosette-like Plantago with many varieties; of trees Pclea Waialealae, 

 Snttonia lanecolata. PcUa orbieularis. and Tetraplasandra Waialealae. Together 

 with these wonderful Lobelias we find curious compositae such as Dvbantia 



