Thymelaeaceae. 
in America, and in the old world from New Zealand to Norway. It is poorly 
represented in the tropical and temperate regions, but is very rich in species in 
the sub-tropical regions of Africa and Australia, and in the steppes of Asia. 
In the Hawaiian Islands the family is represented by the genus Wikstroemia, 
which has about eight species in this archipelago, all of which, with the ex- 
ception perhaps of one, are endemic. Three species become trees. The others 
are small shrubs. 
WIKSTROEMIA Endl. 
— ovale Gehpern tetramerous. Receptacle long cylindrical. Calyx lobes 
spreadin tals none. Stamens in two angie weed rows, inserted in the upper portion of 
the r recepiatalar sabe, + the upper near agi top of ue sah ct acai e the lobes. Hypogynous 
scales Ovary sessile, glabrous or tomen Style very short, the large gine 
stigma peat efo ore almost sessile. Fruit a ang or dry, 2 and then enclosed by t 
receptacular base. Albumen scanty or none. Embryo with fleshy eotyledons.—Shrubs or 
trees with A gears or rarely alternate leaves. Flowers terminal in short racemes or 
spikes. Bracts no 
This genus, whose Hawaiian species are known to the natives by the name 
Akia, is composed of about 20 species, found in the Indo-Malayan region, China, 
Australia and the Hawaiian Islands; in the latter locality about eight species 
are endemic. All have a very tough bark and furnished one of the strongest 
Hawaiian fibers. The Hawaiian Akia or Akea contain an acrid narcotic and 
were used for stupefying fish. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
Leaves ide small, 3.5 em, glabrous. 
Spi 
sate _glabro ere ere rs ee Es Vas ees LEER ee W. oahuensis 
Leaves ig lone, occasionally pubescent. 
Spikes | pommel thick. 
Branches ofte n drooping, spikes often 3 cm long.......-...--- Ww. SS 
Branches stiff, erect, spikes 4 to 7.5 em, many forked.......... W. fur 
Wikstroemia oahuensis (Gray) Rock. 
Akia. 
(Plate 124.) 
WIKSTROEMIA OAHUENSIS (Gray) Rock.—Wikstroemia foetida var. Oahuensis wets 
: keene Journ. os IIT. (1865) 302;—-Seem. Flora Vit. ohegee # Poca Mann 
. Am. Acad. VII. (1867) 199; Wawra in Flora (1 Bye) 4 —Hbd. Fl. Haw. 
Is “Gass 385.—Wikstroemia indica Del Cast. Ill. Fl. In Mar. Pae. VII (1892) 
plomorpha ie Heller in Minnes. Bot. Stad. Bull. IX. (1897) 860. 
yee ovate or ovate-lanceolate em long, 12 to 25 mm wide, on pomnens of 
m, acute at the apex, mare or slightly soe ickcled at the base, glabr ie 
underneath, thi chartaceous; flowe 2 on pedicels of 1 mm, cluster at sha ead 
of a short terminal pe e, the cluster at most elongating into a spikelet ~ 
une f 4 mm 
ngth; perianth pale or greenis oo tubular, puberulous, about 7 mm long, ineluding 
the spreading lobes, which are somewhat obtu use, and perhaps half, aa less, the len gth of 
an e; lower stamens at the middle of the tu = o somewhat higher; hypogynous 
ioh t , ga ovary, which is glabrous except 
the apex which is often , but not 
always, strigose- Sa tibey style very short, with capt 
tate stigma; drupe ovoid, 6 to 8 mm, ye idiak aa : ; 
This species of Akia is usually a shrub 2 to 4 feet high, but on the upper 
slopes of Mt. Konahuanui it is a small tree 12 to 15 feet in height, where it 
316 
