204 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



cassian seeds'" which are curiosities with travelers and used extensively in Hawaii 

 for leis or necklaces. 



The wood of the wiliwili is very light, said to be lighter than cork, and was 

 niucli used l)y the ancient Ilawaiians for making the float log of the outrigger 

 for their canoes and also as floats on their fish nets. 



Another useful plant native to this region, though not well known, is the 

 Hawaiian soap plant or anapanapa ^^ which grows to be a large shrub with small 

 greenish flowers. 



The only really common flowering plant of the islands among the small 

 forms is the ^Mexican thistle or puakala. It occurs in dry rocky situations on 

 the leeward side of the islands and grows erect and stiff and from two or six 

 feet in height. It boldly displays the large, attractive wdiite terminal flowers 

 that are three inches or more in diameter. Its flowers are amply guarded 

 with a mass of Avhitish prickly leaves. Though thoroughly naturalized and 

 found by the first collectors, this thistle-poppy was undoubtedly introduced from 

 the warmer parts of North America. 



One of the most characteristic and abundant native trees of the region, how- 

 ever, is the picturesque Pandanus, better known as lauhala ^- or hala by the 

 natives. It is common on the dry plains and about settlements of the lower 

 regions everywhere, frequently growing down on the sand beach. The stout 

 branching trunks and numerous aerial roots growing out of the trunk, as well 

 as the base of some of the branches, are well known peculiarities of the plant. 

 It has long linear leaves crowded into a head at the end of the branches. The 

 leaves are of great value to the natives, since from them they plait the mats, 

 fans, and other articles, elsewhere described, that are so serviceable. The 

 fibrous wood of the old trees is very hard and capable of taking a high polish 

 and in recent times has been used in making the modern turned wooden bowls 

 or calabashes. Picturesque as the lauhala tree is, its principal charm to the 

 natives is in the bright orange-red fruit from which they will continue to string 

 leis so long as there are natives left to wear them. The base of the fruit con- 

 tains a small, rich, edible nut — about the only native nut in Hawaii worth eating. 



The Pandanus occurs widespread over Polynesia. The seeds will stand 

 saturation in sea water for months without loosing their vitality. Hence they 

 can be readily transported by ocean currents and planted by sea waves. In 

 addition to the wide geographical range of the plant, geologists tell us that its 

 ancestors were alive and flourishing in the Triassic period in Europe. It is said 

 to be among the oldest and most persistant of plants, and one that in every way 

 is fitted to take part in the pioneer work of starting plant life on a new-born 

 oceanic island; it is therefore strange that it has not been established in some 

 way on the low coral islands of this group. 



In this same lowland zone occurs the Hawaiian dodder or pololo,^^ a species 

 that also extends its range down to the strand. This curious member of the 



^^ Colubrinn Asicttirri. '- I'aiidditiis odorfitixsimis. ^^ Cusciita Sandivicliiana. 



