Malvaceae. 
of moths which feed on the leaves and also mature capsules. Mr. Gerrit Wilder, 
however, succeeded in growing a few plants from healthy seeds collected by the 
writer. 
THESPESIA Corr. 
Invol pe bracts 38 to 5, small. Calyx not Fe setiegen dae cup-shaped and trun- 
eate. Staminal column antheriferous below the oothed a Ovary 5-celled, with few 
ascending ov vated in each cell; style club- rea d- va ved. apenle woody or ees 
almost baccate, dehiscent or almost indehiscent. Seeds woolly; se aia i 
tate—Trees with entire leaves. Flower ess single in the axils of the 1 
This genus possesses only a few species in tropical Asia and Polynesia. 7. 
populnea (.) Corr., the Hawaiian Milo, is a cosmopolitan beach-tree, occurring 
in tropical Africa, Asia and Polynesia; in Hawaii it is not as common now as 
in the early days. 
Thespesia populnea (L). Corr. 
Milo. 
THESPESIA oe “ree Corr. in Ann. Mus, Par. IX. (1807) 290, t. 8. fig. 2;— 
DC. Prodr. I. (1824) 457;—H. et A. Bot. Beech, (1832) 60;—Endl. Fl. Suds 
(1836) 182. no. 1506;—Gray Bot. U. 8. E. E. (1854) 179;—Seem. Fi. Vit. (1865) 
18;—Mann in Proe. Ess. Inst ne! 140; apo Sinel. ope Flow w. Isl. 
(1885) pl. 10;—Hbd. FI. a — — 2 Sf —Del Ca Fl, Ins. “Mar. Fae. 
Mes LSet 119; lant ie m Ka Hana K <r) Mem. B. P. Rove TIT. (1911) 135.— 
us populneus Linn. ieee. pl. ed. (1758) 694. ae bacciferus Forst. Prodr. 
17865 no. 260. 
Leaves roundish, cordate, acuminate entire, 10 to 12 in diameter, glabrous; 
peduncles as long as the petioles: pnt bracts jancsolits “equalling the ealyx, soon 
Siuaunns calyx truneate 12 mm; pe eat obov ate- oblong g 5 em, yellow; — globose, 24 
to 30 mn I 
beaches on all the islands. Its habit of growth is, however, different, as it 
develops a straight trunk of often 2 feet or more in diameter, with a thick ecr- 
rugated bark. 
It is a favorite shade tree, reaching a height of over 40 feet, and is often 
planted. The name Milo oceurs also in Tonga, Samoa, and Tahiti for the same 
tree, while it is called Miro in Rarotonga and Mulo in Viti. 
Hillebrand in his Flora p. 50 remarks that the tree was regarded sacred in 
Tahiti and used to be planted in Morais or temples and its leaves were employed 
in religious ceremonies. That the tree was held in high esteem by the Hawaiians 
is shown by the fact that several of them surrounded the house of King Kame- 
hameha I. at Waikiki. 
The wood of the Milo is very beautiful, being of a rich brown color and 
capable of taking a fine polish. It is made into poi calabashes by the natives, 
and is highly prized, though not so much as those of the less common Kow 
(Cordia subcordata). 
302 
