EFBENACEAE. 
The family Ebenaceae is almost exclusively tropical and subtrupical, inhabit- 
ing especially the eastern hemisphere. They have reached their best develop- 
ment in the East Indies and the Malayan Archipelago. In the Hawaiian Islands 
the family is represented by the genus Maba only. The family is closely re- 
lated to the Symplocaceae, from which it however differs in the superior ovary 
and the unisexual flowers. 
MABA J. R. et G. Forster. 
Flowers usually 3- rarely 3-6-fid. Calyx enlarged with fruit. Male flowers: Stamen 
3 to several, usually 9; filaments free or united to 2 to 3; anthers elongate, praia 
laterally. Ovary 3- or 6-celled, with 6 ovules. Style 3-fid or = ’single styles. Fruit usually 
an ovate or globose, glabrous or pubescent 1 to 6 seeded berry.—Trees or ve with alter- 
nate, simple and entire leaves. Flowers solitary or in mk ‘axillary eym 
The genus Maba consists of about 63 species and is distributed over the same 
regions as the family with the exception of South Africa. In the Hawaiian 
Islands only two species and one variety are to be found. One of the two species, 
Maba Hillebrandii Seem.. is endemic, while Maba sandwicensis oceurs also in Fiji. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES, 
Leaves pale green, smooth on both faces, calycine lobes obtuse......... sandwicensis 
Leaves dark green, wrinkled on the upper face, calycine johas acute. Me Hillebrandii 
Maba sandwicensis A. DC. 
Lama. 
(Plates 159, 160.) 
MABA et ee A. DC. Per VIII. (1844) 242;—A. Gray Proce. Am. Aca 
(1862) 327;—Mann Proe Acad, VII. (1867) 188;—Wawra in Flora (1873) 
59 ;—Hbd. FL Tsl. ee 88) 274.—Gurke in Engl. ‘et Prantl | Pfiz poor 
Haw. 
(1891) ee ge Cast. Ill. Fl. Ins. Mar. - cif, VIT, (1892) 230.—Ebenus 
censis 0. Ktze. Rev. Gen. Pl. IT, (1891) 4 
Leaves ans ere aptinn: with hidden bee gs pees pire Aa br avate-oblong 
3.5 to 5 em long, 1.5 to 2.5 em wide, on petioles 6 mm, shortl —— bape 
of 2 tO + 
n 18, 
hirsute rudiments of an port 1/3. ea tough of ton corolla, glabrous, anthe 
oblong, as long as the filaments; female flowers without stamens, the ovar) 3 
ery short 3-rayed; fruit dry or somewhat fleshy; 18 mm hi hen young, 
i t generally one-seeded when mature; 
cell, but 
‘in testa and smooth albumen; cotyledons half the length of the radicle, com 
oblong, obtuse 
The Lama is a beautiful medium sized tree reaching a height of 20 to 40 feet. 
The leaves are thick, leathery, dull green and are arranged alternately in op- 
posite rows, making the little branchlets resemble pinnate leaves. 
planate, 
393 
