1 64 A NATURALIST IN THE PACIFIC CHAP. 



in the islands of Bougainville Straits in the Solomon Group, the 

 fruits of one of them that flourished in the interior of the coral 

 islets being found in the crops of fruit-pigeons. So also in Fiji, 

 some of the inland species, as E. rariflora, appear at times amongst 

 the strand vegetation and in the coral islets. There is, however, 

 one Fijian species found also in Samoa and Tonga that is a 

 characteristic beach tree, namely E. richii (Gray), and it is more or 

 less confined to that station. The fruits will float a fortnight 

 in sea-water, which is nearly twice as long as most other Eugenia 

 fruits will float ; and it is quite possible that the currents may 

 assist the pigeons in distributing the species. This genus is dealt 

 with more in detail in Chapter XXVI. 



The genus Drymispermum (Thymeleaceae) comprises in the 

 Western Pacific a number of species, of which two range over the 

 groups of Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, whilst some four or more 

 are peculiar to Fiji. All are inland plants with the exception 

 of D. Burnettianum, a characteristic littoral shrub of these three 

 groups. Its bright red drupes float only from five to ten days, even 

 after some weeks of drying ; and like those of the inland species 

 they are well suited for dispersal by fruit-pigeons. This beach- 

 plant may be regarded as probably an intruder in the strand-flora 

 from the interior of one of the islands of the Western Pacific, 

 whence birds, perhaps assisted a little by currents, have carried it 

 to the neighbouring groups. 



The very remarkable coast tree, Acacia laurifolia, alone repre- 

 sents its genus in the littoral flora of the Pacific islands. It is con- 

 fined to the Western Pacific, having been found in New Caledonia, 

 the New Hebrides, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa ; but it is doubtful 

 whether it is truly indigenous in all these localities. Thus, in 

 Samoa, though restricted to the coast districts, as we learn from 

 Reinecke it seldom flowers, and according to that botanist it 

 was probably introduced through cultivation. It is, however, 

 evidently regarded by the Samoans as a tree of their group, as 

 is shown in a curious legend, given by Dr. George Turner in 

 his latest book on those islands, which I have quoted in my book 

 on the Solomon Islands, p. 287. Both in Fiji and Samoa it bears 

 the name "tatangia" or "tatania," whilst its hard wood was 

 employed for various purposes, the leaves being used as spoons. 

 The tree flowers and seeds freely on the Fijian beaches. The pods 

 dry up on the plant, and do not dehisce, but are apt to break 

 across between the seeds into article-like portions, the seeds being 

 ultimately liberated by the decay of the pod or its fragments. 



