BOTANY. 349 



ceasing their function when the plant has established 

 itself upon the system of another vegetable. 

 Society Isles ; native name tainoa. 



C. Sp. Resembles the preceding, but has its stalks 

 provided with rows of cup-shaped suckers, by which 

 it adheres tenaciously to the boughs of the plant it 

 infests. 



Christmas Island. 



DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



Inocarpus edulis. South Sea Chesnut. This tree, 

 which is so abundant at the Society and Marquesan 

 Isles, does not obtain at the Sandwich Group. Its 

 Tahitian names are mape, rata, and marara ; of these, 

 mape, (which signifies a kidney, and is derived from 

 the form of the fruit) is most commonly used ; the 

 Marquesan name for the species is ihi. 



The Inocarpus forms extensive groves, and even fo- 

 rests, on the lands it affects, and is a prominent feature 

 in their woodland scenery. Its stature is lofty; its 

 foliage sombre-green, and umbrageous ; and its racemes 

 of small yellow flowers emit a mild odour, which, when 

 many flowering trees are assembled together, perfumes 

 the air for some distance around. The ripe fruit is a 

 yellow reniform drupe, composed of a fibrous pulp, en- 

 closing a flat nut, which contains a large white kernel ; 

 the pulp has a fragrant odour, like that of a ripe apple, 

 and a sweet spicy flavour ; the kernel of the nut, 

 (which is roasted and' eaten by the natives) has the con- 

 sistence and flavour of the European edible chestnut. 

 This fruit will keep good for a long time after it has 

 been gathered, and is very eligible for sea-stock, es- 

 pecially for small vessels manned by native crews. 



