388 BOTANY. 



POLYGAMIA. MONCECIA. 



Acacia falcata. (Mimosa heterophylla, Freycinet.) 

 This tree was observed only at the Sandwich Islands, 

 where its native name is koa. It is an elegant species, 

 and often attains a considerable height. Its foliage 

 is remarkable : the leaves, when first produced, have 

 the pinnated form usual with the Acacia family, but 

 subsequently, their stipules become preternaturally de- 

 veloped, and, assuming the form of curved ligulate 

 leaves, mingle with, and ultimately supersede the place 

 and function of, the true pinnated foliage. In some 

 aged trees, these monstrous growths constitute the en- 

 tire foliage, with the exception of a few recent sprouts 

 from the root or trunk, where the normal pinnated 

 leaves again appear. The timber this tree affords is 

 much valued by the natives, for architectural purposes ; 

 it is also well adapted for cabinet-maker's work ; and, 

 when polished, has a neat appearance, not inferior to 

 that of the " bastard-mahogany' 5 of South America. 



A. glandulosa. This is a tall littoral tree. Its foli- 

 age, although lightly pinnated, has a depth of green 

 which gives it a dark and sombre appearance. The 

 pods or loments it bears are long and constricted, and 

 none that I collected contained any fertile seeds. This 

 species is one of the timber trees of the natives. 



Society Isles ; native name torodi. 



Andropogon Sp. Every part of this grass emits 

 an agreeable perfume, like the huskus grass of India. It 

 is used by the natives to scent their hair-oil, and is 

 often mingled with the thatch of their dwellings. 



Society Isles ; native name aretu. 



