O4 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 66 
succulent joints in spite of the thorns. Two introduced shrubs now 
occupy extensive areas and have become great pests. These are 
guava (Psidium guajava), whose fruit furnishes the delicious guava 
jelly, and lantana (Lantana camara), with clusters of handsome parti- 
colored flowers. In the moister portions of the islands large areas 
have been occupied by Hilo grass (Paspalum conjugatum) which 
has little value as a forage plant. The kukui or candlenut tree 
(Aleurites moluccana) with its light, almost silvery, green foliage 
is now a common and rather striking element in the valleys and 
gorges. 
Fic. 67——A forest of algaroba trees (Prosopis julifora). The pods are 
much relished by stock and are an important cattle food. From the flowers are 
produced an excellent quality of honey which is an important article of export. 
The indigenous flora is highly interesting though not abundant in 
species. Two of the commonest trees are the ohia (Wetrosideros 
polymorpha) and the koa (Acacia koa). The former, also called 
ohia lehua and lehua, resembles, in the appearance of the trunk, our 
white oak, but bears beautiful clusters of scarlet flowers with long- 
protruding stamens. The koa produces a valuable wood much used 
in cabinet making, now becoming familiar through its use for making 
ukuleles. Characteristic of the upper forest belt on the high moun- 
tains of Hawaii is the mamani (Sophora chrysophylla), a leguminous 
tree with drooping racemes of yellow flowers and long 4-winged 
