346 SAMOAN PLANTS AND THEIR VERNACULAR NAMES. 
Lala, al. Lalatai (Papilionea). A large, spreading, twining, 
arboraceous shrub; leaves small, opposite, ovate, very thick and 
owny. Flowers yellow. Wood hard ; used for pegs in native car- 
pentering. 
Lala. A white-flowered, common, papilionaceous shrub. 
Lalamea (Papilionea), A wild species of Trefoil, purple flowers. 
Legume 6—8-seeded. 
Lalamea, al. Lalamelo. The name on Manu'a of the “ Fu‘apine,” 
g. t. 
Lalatoa, a/. Alaalatoa (Missiesiya corymbulosa, Wedd.). A small, 
graceful tree, whose leaves have been used occasionally by some fo- 
reigners as a substitute for tea. 
ano. The name of a tree, said to be very poisonous. 
Lama (Aleurites Moluceana, Willd.). A tree, about 30-40 feet high. 
Leaves trilobate, exstipulate, whitish and downy appearance on the 
back. Moneecious, polypetalous. Stamens fewer than 20. Ovary su- 
perior. Fruit (the Candle-nut) 2-3-celled, dehiscent, ete. The kernel 
oily and in taste much like a walnut, but more oily ; eaten occasionally 
by the natives. When out of paint oil I have used an oil obtained 
from these nuts as a substitute; it does not dry soon. From these 
nuts the Samoans obtain their black dye or lamp-black. They burn 
used in tatooing and in painting their native cloth. 
Lama-papalagi. Two species: Ricinus communis, L., the one 
whiter and not so tall as the other, introduced; and Croton sp., 
lately introduced, by the Wesleyan missionaries, from Tonga. 
aua'a. The stipular fibrous substance which surrounds the base 
of the cocoa-nut leaves. Used as a strainer. 
Lauàutà (Gymnogramme tartarea, Desv.). “The marking-leaf," 
from the fact that when the back of the frond is placed upon the skin, 
the powder leaves the figure of the leaf. Called also “ Laauaauta," 
the marking plant. . 
Lau‘avi‘avi (Musa sp.). The name of a species of Banana. 
Laufala ( Padanus caricosus, Rumph.). The natives use the leaves 
for making their finer kind of house- and sleeping-mat, and orna- 
menting their fancy baskets, 
