ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 375 



grass (Panicum), the one having purple, the other va- 

 riegated leaves. The couch-grass is also spreading fast 

 through the islands, and there is a fine lawn of it in 

 front of the king's house at Bau, blendirtg well with the 

 number of fine shrubs and trees which, at Mrs. Collis's 

 instigation, were planted around the royal residence. 

 Of the Kauti, Senitoa, Senicicobia, or Shoe-black plant 

 (Hibiscus Eosa-sinensis, Linn.), a single pink and purple 

 as well as a double variety are cultivated. When the 

 Cassia obtusifolia and Cassia occidentalis were first 

 brought to Fiji, the natives took them under their special 

 protection, and disseminated them freely, being highly 

 pleased with their leaves "going to sleep" at night, 

 whence the names of Mocemoce and Kaumoce, i.e. sleep- 

 ing plants. But they became weary of their pets when it 

 was found that they speedily proved two most trouble- 

 some weeds, which, in common with the Datura Stra- 

 monium, Euphorbia piliilifem, Plcmtago major, Erigeron 

 albidum, and other foreign intruders, caused them a great 

 deal of additional labour. 



Most of the white settlers have little gardens in which 

 all flowers derived from warm countries are grown with 

 great success. The pride of Barbadoes (Poinciana pul- 

 cherrima, Linn.), both the red and yellow variety, may 

 be seen in perfection; the same may be said of the 

 white trumpet-flower (Brugmannsia Candida, Pers.), the 

 balsam (Impatiens Balsaminn, Linn.), the Quamoclit vul- 

 garis, Chois., the scented Acacia (Acacia Farnesiana, 

 Willd.), the blue Clitoria Ternatea, Linn., the Gom- 

 phrena globosa, Linn., Vinca rosea, Linn., Calendula offi- 

 cinalis, and the well-known Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis 



