BOTANY. 361 



Polynesian islands, and grows wild in the greatest 

 vigour and perfection at the Marquesan and Society 

 groups. In the wild state, on the stony soil of the 

 former, and when cultivated on the latter group, it 

 affords a large crop of cotton-wool, which, although of 

 fine staple, and consequently less valuable than some 

 coarser kinds, is considered by an eminent London 

 broker, to be of a good and useful quality, for which 

 there is always a steady demand in this country ; and 

 that its importation price in the English market would 

 be about eight-pence the pound. 



Pitcairn Island. Society and Sandwich groups ; na- 

 tive name puru (soft.) Marquesas, bako. 



Sida rotundifolia. Sandwich Isles ; native name 

 rima. Christmas Island. 



Malva rotundifolia. Oahu, Sandwich Isles. 



DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. 



Erythrina corallodendrum. Coral Tree. This is one 

 of the deciduous trees of Polynesia : it casts its leaves 

 on the approach of the winter months, but retains on 

 its boughs large clusters of scarlet papilionaceous 

 flowers, and pods enclosing beans of a coral-red colour. 

 One Tree Hill, at Tahiti, obtained its name from a 

 solitary example of this species which formerly grew 

 on its summit. 



Society Isles ; native name atai. Sandwich Isles, 

 viri viri (CROOKED.) Timor. 



E. monosperma. A climbing plant, affecting moun- 

 tain-land. It attains the height of eight feet, and bears 



