similar in habit to Gleichenia linearis, the well-known Uluhe or staghora fern. 
The writer has found it also on one of the other craters, but sparingly, and 
again on the lava fields of Puuwaawaa, in North Kona. 
An arborescent Raillardia about 15 feet high grows on Puuokeanue in com- 
pany with Solanwm incompletum, also found in North Kona, where it is a shrub 
5 to 8 feet tall. Campylotheca micrantha, another shrubby composite, was as- 
sociated with it. Campylotheca Menziesii var. y, was only found on one crater 
on the slopes of Hualalai on Puuoikaaka. It, however, is not uncommon on the 
Waimea side on the slopes of Mauna Kea, especially on Nohonaohae and Kemole 
crater. A species of Sida not found on the central plain proper is confined to 
Pohakuloa, where it forms dense thickets. Of trees, Santalum Freycinetianum, 
Suttonia, Wikstroemia, ete., form the main vegetation, besides Sophora chry- 
sophylla, the everpresent Naio, and Acacia Koa. The slopes of Mauna Loa are 
covered with a dense growth up to an elevation of 8000 feet, after which the 
plants become very stunted and few until we find nothing but a species of grass, 
Koehleria glomerata. 
The main trees are Sophora and Myoporum, but Aoa is wanting. Of shrubs, 
the epacridaceous Styphelia is common, together with a species of Raillardia; of 
Rubiaceae, two species of Coprosma are present, one being a creeper, the other 
a small shrub. Gahnia Gaudichaudii, Carex, and Cyperus are scattered here 
and there. The main plant covering at an elevation of 6000 feet is the grass 
Keohleria glomerata, which grows exceedingly rank and stands sometimes three 
feet high. As already mentioned, it is the last plant one sees at an elevation of 
11,000 feet. Of course, the Ohelo is also common. Noteworthy is the fact that 
Argyroxiphium sandwicense is not to be found on this side of Mauna Loa, but 
only above Kapapala at an elevation of from 7000 to 9000 feet. Besides, one 
looks in vain for the tree composites which can be met with so frequently on 
Mauna Kea up to 11,500 feet. Here on Mauna Loa only one species is present. 
The slopes of the mountain on the Kona side are mainly composed of pahoehoe 
which is of great age, and very much disintegrated; the country is covered with 
holes, which are usually overgrown with Stenogyne rugosa at the lower levels, 
5000 to 6000 feet, and harbor Vaccinium shrubs or Mamani at the higher levels. 
The lava crust is very thin and cracks like ice, which makes traveling very un- 
comfortable. At about 9000 feet we meet the first aa flow, which covers the 
pahoehoe for miles. It was ejected from a crater situated at that elevation. It 
is a triangular steep cone with sharp rims, and is called Punouno. The aa flows 
are barren and of great thickness. Many aa flows intersect the ancient pahoehoe 
at the higher levels. In traveling it is a continuous going round these flows, 
which one is occasionally forced to cross. Above 11,000 feet perfectly black, 
shining pahoehoe covers the mountain. It is extremely thin and glassy in ap- 
pearance, breaking in at nearly every step. When the writer ascended Mauna 
Loa on February 17, 1912, snow was to be found only in patches several feet 
thick. The steep crater walls were more or less covered with snow, which was 
47 
