197 



Between these two species there is another, or a variety, 

 occupying a middle position in respect to character and 

 habitat. These, however, are so inconstant, that the tree is 

 not always easily distinguished from one or other of its 

 parents, as the two species above-mentioned may be termed. 



For the sake of distinction, the large-leaved species may be 

 termed No. 1, the variety No. 2, and the small-leaved species 

 No. 3. While No. 1 is generally found on rich soil at the 

 bottoms of valleys and ravines, and No. 3 on the tops of the 

 ridges, No. 2 occupies the sides of the ravines between them, 

 and makes frequent incursions on the territories of both. 



The flowers of the three kinds are cream-coloured, changing 1 

 to yellow as the flowers grow old. 



As specimens of Nos. 1 and 3 are enclosed, they need not 

 be described ; and No. 3 need not be further alluded to, on 

 account of the small quantity of juice which it yields. 



It is of the large-leaved species and the variety that I will 

 now treat. The follicles, or seed vessels of No. 2, are shorter 

 than those of No. 1 : also the tree and its leaves are generally 

 smaller. The seeds of both are from two to three-eighths of an 

 inch long, by one-eighth broad, thickly covered with dark 

 brown hairs, thin and flat, with ciliated edges, which look like 

 fringes when viewed through a lens. The leaves of No. 1 are 

 from 6 to 15 inches long, and from 3 to 6 or 8 inches broad. 

 The leaves of No. 2 are from 3 to 12 inches in length, and 

 from 2 to 6 inches in breadth. Though unequal in size, the 

 trees are equally hardy, and yield juice freely and abundantly. 

 No. 1 would seem to grow more rapidly than No. 2 ; but this, 

 and the greater size of the leaves, may be caused by the tree 

 growing on rich soil, and in sheltered situations. They may 

 be reckoned one species, whose characters vary according to 

 the position in which the trees may be growing. To this 

 view I am much inclined, because any difference I have as 

 yet seen is in the size of their different parts. 



Neither of them is gregarious. They abound in all parts 

 of Fiji, and especially on land which has at one time been 

 cultivated. They are very common at Bua, on the leeward 

 edges of the woods or patches of natural forest which still 

 remain in that district. This may, very probably, be owing 

 to the grass, reeds, &c, having been burnt off the land, and 

 the wind carrying the seed from the adjoining trees on to it. 

 These would germinate after the first rain fell. This suggests 

 a very rapid and inexpensive method of increasing the plant, 



