FLORA OF THE GROUP. 215 



the awapuhi often entirely covers the ground in llic lower forests. Tin- natives 

 made no use of the hoi'i/outal. tleshy root stocks, hut the slimy juice I'fom the 

 infldrescence, heiny "as slippery as water oil' au crl/^ was used hy llie heauty- 

 doctors of a former time as a dressing for the hair. This sul)stance, as 

 also the juice of ki, and the sap of the han tree mixed with poi for use in 

 cooling the skin, were three of the chief cosmetics to be found on the dressing 

 table of the Hawaiian belle. The Chinese ginger^-'' of commerce is occasionally 

 grown in the islands in a limited way by the orientals. A number of other 

 species are also grown as ornamental plants. 



Kauila,!-^ or the more widely ranging foi'm^"' known by the same luitive 

 name, was one of the useful woods of old Hawaii. By reason of its remarkably 

 close, heavy grain it was especially useful in making spears, kapa beaters, and 

 other tools and implements. The second species mentioned was formei-ly fairly 

 common on the lower slopes of all of the islands, where it formed a tree fifty 

 to eighty feet high with alternate, parallel-veined haii'y leaves, and small 

 terminal tiowers. 



The uulai,^*^ a low, much-branching, stiff shrub with small leaflets and small 

 white inconspicuous flowers which were followed by whitish roseapple-like fruits, 

 was used for making arrows for the toy bows used in killing rats. 



The ohia,!' or ohia lehua, though growing best in altitudes where rain is more 

 abundant, is common and one of the characteristic trees of the lower forest zone. 

 From about 1,500 feet elevation to at least 6,000 and even 8,000 feet, it is an 

 important and abundant tree, to be seen in every landscape. Often it forms 

 dense shaded forests where the trees are festooned with vines and the ground is 

 carpeted with moss and ferns. In such localities trees four feet in diameter^ 

 and nearly one hundred feet tall are occasionally seen. Unfortunately the root 

 system of this important forest tree is very shallow, often spreading ovei' the sur- 

 face of the hard soil beneath. As a result they are especially liable to be blown 

 down in the high winds and heavv' storms of the higher forest zones. Its wood 

 is very hard and durable, but warps badly. With the coming of the v.iiites it 

 was used to some extent in the framework of their houses and as fence jxists. 

 More recently its hard and durable Avood has been found to uiake vei-y excellent 

 railroad ties, street-paving blocks, antl it is also much used as a hardwood floor- 

 ing in dwellings. 



The ohi;i occurs on many of the important islands of l'ol\nesia. and its many 

 and intergrading forms long puzzled the native botanists, ami it is oidy fair to 

 say that their European friends have 1)\' uo means satisfactorily disposed of the 



^•^ Ziiiinhfr oljicinfili'. ^* CnJiibriiia oiiiio-iififiilia. ^^ Aliiliifaiiin cxrclsn. 



'^" Ostcomi'Ii's aiitlnjUidijolia. ^' Mftro,sid<'riis /loli/iiii/riiha. 



(Description of Plate Cohtinued from Oii/iosite I'aije.) 



fWawao iole] Li/copndiitm rernuum). 7. Linm Kolin (ITrpatiea). 8. H(>]i:itica. !». Hawai- 

 ian .Mistletoe [Kauiiiahaiia] (riscum arlicuJdtuin). 10. Xcrtera depreH.sa. 11. Wawac iole 

 {Li/ropodinm pnrIi//.'<facIn/o)i). 12. Ci/rtandra sp. K?. Budlcija (usiaiicn. 14. Olia wai {Her- 

 mont'ia pcrsic(efoUa). 1.5. Papala (Pisonia umbellifeni). Ki. Kaawau (Ilex = (Bi/roiiia) 

 Sa7idicicensis) . 17. Lycopodiiim serratum. 



