The writer crossed the Naalehu forest diagonally toward Kahuku up to the 
source of the 1868 lava flow, at an elevation of about 6600 feet. The main trees 
above 5000 feet elevation are Metrosideros polymorpha, the Ohia lehua, usually 
tall trees with rather straight trunks, which are enwrapped with moss and 
epiphytic ferns; the Cheirodendron Gaudichaudii (Olapa) is the next most 
common, with Suttonia Lessertiana. 
The undergrowth is exceedingly dense and is composed mainly of Rubus 
Hawaiiensis, which is covered with fine aculeate spines which adhere to and 
penetrate into the flesh very easily when touched. It grows here erect, 5 to 8 
feet high, and was almost void of foliage (January). It has one main stem 
tapering toward the end without even small branchlets, having the shape of a 
whip. Ferns are also common, mainly Dryopteris globulifera, Sadleria, and 
here and there a Cibotium. At an elevation of 5600 feet Ohia lehua is the prin- 
cipal tree. Associated with it, curiously enough, is the small-leaved Suttonia 
sandwicensis (Kolea), which is here a tree 18 to 25 feet in height with a straight 
trunk of 5 to 6 inches in diameter. The undershrubs are mainly Coprosma with 
rambling branches, Broussaisia pellucida, and Pipturus. The soil is still rich 
and muddy, and is often covered with tussocks of Astelia veratroides, the large- 
leaved form usually found to be terrestrial. At about 5000 feet, where in other 
localities a forest of this type would gradually change into an open, flat swamp 
like Puukukui on West Maui, or Waialeale on Kauai, the land here becomes 
drier, and the first pahochoe lava becomes visible. The transition vegetation is 
stunted, though some straight, tall Ohia trees are not uncommon, while a pecu- 
liar low-growing Sadleria forms the undershrub. The most interesting fact is 
the absence of Acacia Koa in the entire stretch of forest between Hilea and 
Waiohinu, as well as of Sophora chrysophylla, which is not found even on the 
open pahoehoe lava field which supports the following vegetation belonging to 
the upper forest zone: Raillardia Sp., a small shrub 4 to 5 feet high, grows to- 
— with Vaccinium reticulatum, and an undescribed variety of the same 
which is much taller and has a bluish-purple glaucous berry, with orbicular 
glaucous leaves. Geranium cuneatum var. 8. forms small shrubs with stout, stiff 
branchlets; the leaves are silvery underneath. It is usually plentiful Sn ele- 
vated crusts of pahoehoe lava which have become fissured, and covers them com- 
ae together with Styphelia tameiameia and St. tiate and Raillardia, 
ee re oe ernodeoides, a rubiaceous creeper 
Chilensis, a pai eine a oot e oes the oe strawberry, Fragarva 
scidaesceli Gleite Himacicces ne au “* af Carex sandwicensis, while the 
iii Sitevnthiee eieckinde “ “ ich has all the aspects of a Cyperaceae, 
aceae are growing seattered between the 
1 : 
a auc Lycopodium venustulum and the Gramineae Koehleria glomerata 
an eschampsia australis can also be met with. 
36 
