copper plate of the U. 8. Geological Survey is enclosed in cement, is Kapailoahiki. 
Where the Hetau is situated is Kawakoo, then comes a pool called Waialeale, and 
beyond it a hill overlooking Wailua, which is known as Waikini. 
THE SUMMIT BOG OF WEST MAUI, PUU KUKUI, ELEVATION 5788 FEET. 
Puu Kukui is a large, open, more or less flat plateau, composed of light-gray, 
heavy, loamy soil. The vegetation is stunted, with the exception of such as 
occurs in depressions or small gulches, and at the head of Iao Valley, where 
trees belonging to the middle forest region abound. 
The whole of Puu Kukui is a second Waialeale of Kauai, though a number 
of plants are peculiar to the former. We find the same globose tussocks of Ore- 
obulus furcatus and the very interesting Carex montis Eeka, besides Grami- 
neae, such as Deschampsia australis forma longius aristata, Calamagrostis Hille- 
brandi Hack. (nov. nom.), and others, while the juncaceous Luzula hawaiiensis 
var. glabrata grows in their company. One of the most striking vegetative fea- 
tures is the great abundance of the very beautiful Lobelia Gaudichaudii. In 
certain parts this plant covers the ground, and in the month of August it is in- 
deed a beautiful sight. At about 5000 feet elevation these Lobelias are only 
about 3 to 4 feet high, while at the extreme eastern end of this interesting bog 
the plant is from 8 to 15 feet high and branches eandelabra-like into usually 
five erect racemes, bearing from 40 to 80 flowers each, while the plants in the 
open bog have only one pyramidal raceme about 2 to 3 feet long. The flowers 
are much larger than those of L. Kauaiensis, found on Waialeale, and also hand- 
somer ; they are cream-colored with a slight pinkish tinge, and are three inches 
long and an inch wide. Lobelia macrostachys is here absent, while represented 
on Waialeale, Kauai, by a new variety. The beautifully branching Lobelia 
Gaudichaudii found on the brink of Iao Valley is certainly distinct from the one 
described by DeCandolle in many particulars, especially in the very long lanceo- 
late acuminate bracts, and shall from now on be known as var. longibracteata 
Rock, var. nov. 
Next to the Lobelioideae found at the summit, the Compositae have three 
representatives. Of greatest interest is the very handsome Wilkesia Grayana, 
with its 5 to 8 feet tall stem, bearing a dense crown of verticillate leaves, out of 
whose center the inflorescence comes forth as a large foliaceous raceme of one 
and one-half to two feet in length, bearing yellow globose flower heads of about 
10 lines in diameter. There is only one other species known of this interesting 
genus, W. gymnoxiphium. It occurs in the dry districts of Kauai, especially on 
open wind-swept cliffs in company with Lobelia yuccoides; while W. Grayana 
grows in the open bog, which receives an enormous amount of rainfall. 
The second interesting genus is Argyroxiphium, which also belongs to the 
most ancient of Hawaiian Compositae, though of American aftinity. These two 
genera are undoubtedly the oldest denizens of the Hawaiian Islands. The genus 
78 
