282 SAMOAN PLANTS AND THEIR VERNACULAR. NAMES. 
indehiscent, crowned by the persistent stigma. Seeds 8, or 6 or 7 by 
abortion, pendulous from their apex ; testa membranous, brown ; al- 
bumen white, transparent. In bloom in December. The secretion of 
the fruit isa vesicatory, and turns the human skin black. The Samoan 
boys and girls are accustomed to insert the midrib of the cocoa-nut 
leaflet into the fruit, and apply the liquid thus obtained to their arm in 
several places, which produces blisters, and eventually permanent pro- 
minences, which they consider an ornament. The fruit is used in 
Niue (Savage Island) for poisoning fish; the tree is there called 
[Aulosoloso. The spike of cocoa-nut flowers. ] 
Aute (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis). 
Aute fafine (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis, fl. pleno). 
Aute Tonga (Hibiscus Storckii, Seem.). 
‘Ava (Piper methysticum). 
‘Ava‘avaaitu (Piper insectifugum). Fruit long, red. 
‘Avapui (Zingiber Zerumbet). Two varieties. 
‘Avapui-papalagi (Amomum sp..  Naturalized. 
"Avasa (Papilionacea). A small shrub, regarded by the natives as 
poisonous. Flowers white. 
‘Avasauli, Avasa-Tonga, al. Laumatui (Cassia sp.). A very pretty 
shrub, with unequally pinnate, dark green leaves, Yellow flowers. 
Ega vel Niu'afa (Cocos nucifera). The long kind, rather rare and 
highly valued, of whose fibre the ‘Afa (Sinnet) is made. 
Esi (Carica Papaya). Esi tane—the male. Esi fifane—the fe- 
male. 
Fa. The stem of the Taro-leaf, furnishing a nice dish when cooked, 
and is a good substitute for Asparagus. 
Faapala, The name of a tree with gummy fruit. 
Fa'i vel Mo‘é (Musa). | Spadices pendent. 
Fa'-puputa. Very large fruit. 
Fa‘-papalagi (Musa Cavendishii, Paxton). There are many in- 
digenous species of Musa, but the foreign M. Cavendishii is the 
most prolific and abundant. It was introduced by the Rev. J. Wil- 
liams in 1838, from Chatsworth. The species of this genus whose - 
spadices are erect are called by distinct names, e. g. “ Soa‘a,” ** Sula- 
sula," ete, 
Fagu (Karivia Samoensis ?, A. Gray). The fruit is used by the na- 
tives as bottles for their scented oils. 
