Euphorbiaceae. 
15 em long. Male flowers: calyx ovoid in the bud petals white to cream colored, oblanceo- 
late; stamens about 18, anthers erect, introrse. Female flowers: calyx 6 mm; ovary hairy, 
2-celled; fruit fleshy, coriaceous, globose, about 5 em or more in diameter, with 4 shallow 
furrows; seeds 1 or 2, rugose-gibbous, 
The Kukui is one of the most common of Hawaiian forest trees, growing at 
elevations of from about sea level to about 2200 feet. It reaches a height of 
sometimes 80 feet and more, especially in narrow, rocky gorges, such as Mauna 
Lei on Lanai, and other narrow valleys. The trunks reach large dimensions, and 
it is not uncommon to find them several feet in diameter. Of all Hawaiian trees 
the Kukui has the lightest colored foliage, it being covered with a silvery-gray 
powder which makes it very conspicuous in the forest, and can be recognized 
from far off. The trunks are not always erect, but sometimes are twisted and 
running on the ground, as are also the huge branches. It is mainly in narrow 
gorges that the tree has a perfectly straight trunk, branching 40 feet or so above 
the ground. 
It inhabits the lower slopes of the mountains in the dry region as well as on 
the windward side, where the rainfall is usually heavy. It is common on all 
the islands from almost sea level up to 2200 feet, but not higher. 
The nuts especially were a necessity to the natives, who made their torches 
from the seeds, strung on coconut or palm-leaf midribs. An oil was expressed 
from the nuts, which they burnt in stone lamps. Of the acrid juice of the fleshy 
covering of the nuts they prepared a black dye, used in tattooing. From the 
bark of the root a similar dye was used in coloring canoes black. The trunk 
itself was sometimes made into canoes. while the soot of the burning nuts was 
used as canoe paint. The trunk, when bruised, exudes a gum or resin called 
pilali by the natives, who employed it for various purposes. The gummy sub- 
stance is said to be chewed by the Tahitians, especially that exuding from the 
fruits. The nuts contain 50 per cent of oil, which is known as Kekwna in India 
and Ceylon, and Kukui in Hawaii. In former times the yearly production of 
the Kukui nut oil in the Hawaiian Islands amounted to 10,000 gallons, and was 
exported to Europe. The cake, after expression of the oil, is a good food for 
cattle, and also useful for manuring. Medicinally, the oil is used as a purgative, 
and also makes an ideal dressing for ulcers. 
The nuts are also roasted by the Hawaiians and, when chopped, are mixed 
with seaweed and served at lwaus or native feasts as a relish. In Samoa the 
nuts are strung similarly to the old Hawaiian method and used as house lamps, 
50 to 60 nuts being necessary for one night. They are boiled before being 
strung on the midribs of palm leaves. It is called lama and tuitui in Samoa, 
ntbbol by the Tami Islanders in New Guinea, and raguar in the Caroline Islands; 
it is the lauci, sikeci and tuitui in the various dialects of Fiji. 
The wood of the Kukui is of a light color, soft and absolutely not durable. 
It decays very easily when cut full of sap. Many insects bore into the wood, 
but especial mention may be made of the big beetle Aegosoma, belonging to the 
Longicorn family, which is also a great enemy of the Koa and other trees. 
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