BOTANY. 337 



obtained, varied in the number of stamens they pos- 

 sessed, from five to eight inclusive ; and it is worthy of 

 remark, that in every instance the number of divisions 

 of the petal coincided accurately with the numerical 

 vagaries of the stamens. 



Lobelia Sp. The only spot where we noticed this 

 plant was on the summit of a lofty mountain in the 

 interior of Raiatea, Society group. It there grew as 

 a low sturdy bush, with long lanceolate leaves, and 

 covered with a profusion of large monopetalous flowers 

 which are white on their upper surface, green beneath, 

 and without odour. In size and general appearance 

 they bear a close resemblance to the blossoms of the 

 Gardenia Florida, and the natives name the plant tiiri- 

 upatui. These flowers are more highly valued as orna- 

 ments by the native females than the scented titri ; 

 owing probably to their rarity, and the difficulty in 

 procuring them. 



Solanum Sandvicense. A tall bush. Flowers white ; 

 berries, when mature, black. 



Sandwich group; native name pua poro. 



S. Sp. A bushy plant, bearing small white flowers, 

 which are followed by berries the size and shape of an 

 olive, and of a yellow-red colour. The natives are ac- 

 customed to suspend these berries over bunches of 

 green plantains, believing that the ripening of the latter 

 fruit may be thus accelerated. 



Society Isles. Native name oporo, (a name which is 

 also applied to the exotic, capsicum, a plant which this 

 species of Solanum very closely resembles.) 



S. sodomeum. St. Helena. 



VOL. II. Z 



