Myrtaceae. 
The genus Jambosa consists of about 120 species, which are distributed over 
the Indo-Malayan, but Pee ad Malagassic, regions; also over north-eastern 
Australia and Polynesi 
In the Hawaiian islands the genus is represented by one cosmopolitan species. 
Jambosa malaccensis (Linn.) P.DC. 
Ohia ai, Mountain Apple. 
(Plate 125.) 
ales (1832) A oead Flora Suds. in Ann. Wi ien, . Mus. (1836) 181, n. 1466;— 
Guillem, Zeph. Tait. *(1896-1837) no. pak —Pancher in Cuz. Tahiti, (1860) 232;— 
Jardin Hist. Nat. Iles Marqu. (1858) 2 4;—Nadeaud Enum, Tah. Pl. (1873) cg 
Niedenzu in Engl. et Prantl Pflzfam _ IIL. (1893) 84; —Wilder Fruits Haw. Isl. 
(1911) 20. pl. 8—Bugenia malaccensis Han Spee. Pl, fer’ Bika ) 470; Fors < 
Prodr. (1786) no. 220;—Gray Se SU Soe. ey, 510; . Fl. Vit. (1866) 
77;—Mann Proe. Am. Acad, V I. Se 166 : Pre. Ess. Inst. 
7) 245;—Mrs. Sinclair Ind. Flow, H aw. Isl vBagy es aL ;—Hbd. Fl. Haw. 
Isl. (1888) 128;—Del Cast. Il Ins. Mar, Pae 0) 169, et Polyn 
a Kapa Mem. B. P. Bish. aoe Iti; (1911) 156, fig. 98—Jambosa domestica 
Haioch. Herb. ae ft (avai) 127. t. 37;—Blume Mus. Bot. (1849) 91.—J. pur- 
purascens DC. 
Hg ene aa or obovate-oblong, = to 20 em long, 5 to 7.5 em wide, 
es : 
on Foca of 12 mm, suddenly eee: dark green and shining, = dotted, the sinuate 
marginal nerve distant from the edge; cymes asters. usually cauline, short, about 5 em 
long, their lowest branche 3 flowered, the mi le and terminal 
8 to 12 mm long and 
branch racemose; pedicels short, gradually enlarging into the calyx; calyx turbinate, pro- 
duced Pa Aa the ovary, with 4 rounded lobes; petals obovate, red, reddis i ae or 
white, 6 mm; the red or vee stam rac 18 mm long; fruit obovate, about 7.5 a oe 
meter, dibitiente at the top and crowned by ee truncate sear of the calyx seh Jobes, deep 
crimson, pale pinkish, or white; cet (eeuarally on 
Occasionally a tree of 60 feet in height. It is the mountain apple of the 
white man and the Ohia ai or edible Ohia of the native Hawaiian. So much has 
been written about this cosmopolitan species that only a brief account of it 
will be given in the following lines. 
The Ohia ai was undoubtedly brought to Hawaii by the natives long before 
the arrival of the first white man, and was the only Hawaiian fruit before the 
coming of the latter. It is widely distributed over the islands of the Pacifie, 
where it is known by various names. It favors the windward sides of the 
islands in the valleys and gorges, where it forms almost pure stands, along 
streambeds. It is restricted to the lowlands and never ascends into the 
mountains. 
It flowers and fruits at various times of the year according to locality. In 
one district the trees can be seen in flower while in another the trees are loaded 
With the bright red watery apples. 
The Ohia ai played an important role in the ouidl of Hawaii and Polynesia 
as a whole, and was regarded as sacred, and from its wood many idols were 
carved. 
The white variety is known in Hawaii as Ohia ai hua keokeo, and in Fiji as 
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