FLORA OF THE GROUP. 213 



cal)inet woods. Combining as it does a rieli red wood, with a beautiful grain 

 that is susceptible of a high polish, it is much used in the manufacture of furni- 

 ture and as an inside finishing wood in public buildings. The baric is also of 

 use in tanning leather. 



Botanically the koa belongs to the genus Acacia of which fully lialf of the 

 known species are Australian, while the rest are scattered widely over the world, 

 many having been introduced into Hawaii. 



Examples of the native Hibiscus occur, but they are rather rare plants. 

 Four species are known ; the flowers are all single and are pink,*' white,' yellow* 

 and red" respectively. One with ovate leaves and white flowers, often growing 

 twenty-five feet tall, is found in the mountains back of Honolulu and occasion- 

 ally on the other islands. All of the native species have been held in cultivation 

 as garden shrubs and much has already been done along the line of producing 

 new varieties by cross polinization. A closely allied genus, Hibiscaclclpltus, has 

 been recently estalilished to iucludt' thrrc rare species found on Maui and 

 Hawaii. 



The native Smilax i" is by no means the tender hot-house plant one might 

 be led to expect. On the contrary, it is a robust climber with stems a third 

 to a half inch in diameter and fifty feet in length that trail across the forest 

 path. The leaves are three to five inches long and broadly ovate, having a 

 width in proportion. Thej* are easily recognized as they are dark glossy green 

 and have five to seven parallel nerves running lengthwise of the leaf. The 

 natives know this striking vine by various names — uhi, ulehihi and pioi being 

 among them. It is said that they formally ate the tuberous roots in times of 

 scarcity. 



Another attractive vine of the lower forest zone is the hoi or yam." The 

 scattering large, broad, heart-shaped leaves are five to seven inches long and 

 have from seven to eleven nerves converging towards the tip. It is a plant of 

 wide distribution, extending its range as far as Africa. To the botanist it is of 

 peculiar interest because of the large potato-like bulbs, called alaala by the na- 

 tives, that grow here and there at the base of the leaves. The large, irregular, 

 fleshy roots of the yam Avere much used as food by the natives, and formerly 

 were cultivated to supply ships calling at Hawaii before the conunon jwtato was 

 introduced. 



The native ginger ^- is a conspicuous and to a certain extent characteristic 

 plant of this zone. Growint;' one or two feet high with leaves six or eight inches 

 long, and bearing a i>retty ]ial(» yellow Hower (in a curious cone-like inflorescence. 



(Description of Plate Continued from Opposite Page.) 



formis). 6. Plantain (Plantago major). 7. Fleabane or Horse-weed [Iliohe] {Erigeron 

 Canadensis). 8. (Solanum trtfiorum) . 9. Indigo [Inikoa] {Indigofera Anil). 10. Wild 

 Ipecac [Nuumele] (Asclepias Curas.'iavica) . 11. (Carex Oahuensis). 12. Painter's Brush 

 {Composite Family). 13. Kaluha (Kyllingia oitusifoUa) . 14. Lobelia (Eollatidm calycina) 

 young. 15. Popolo {Sola/mm actUeatissimtim). (No number) = Lythrum maritimum. 



