222 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



of their pleasing odors. The scent of the lij)oa,-'^=^ a sea moss, was also used as a 

 perfiuiie. Cocoa nut oil. scented with sandalwood, was used to some extent on 

 the hair and body. 



The bastard sandalwood or naieo ^^ is a tree common on the summit of 

 Kaala, and the higher forest belt generally, that becomes fragrant on drying and 

 has an odor tliat resembles sandalwood. After the exhaustion of the sandalwood 

 it was exported to China for a time as a substitute for that valuable vrood. The 

 naieo is found dead in many localities at as low a level as 1,500 feet. 



In the lower forest region, on Oahu especially, occurs the pretty white- 

 tiowered napaka-^^ in the form of low shrub. The heads of the valleys in this 

 region are usually marked by clumps of wild bananas,^'' of which there are many 

 varieties, and various species of the interesting and curious Lobelia first appears, 

 and ferns of many species abound. 



A marked difference exists in the nature of the flora of this zone on the 

 windward or wet and the lee or dry side of the islands, and the student of 

 plant life soon learns that there are many floral districts in this zone, each of 

 which usually has its characteristic species of plants. 



The Middle Forest Zone. 



The next important area is usually designated as the middle forest zone 

 and extends up the mountains from three to six thousand feet elevation. It is 

 well marked by the greatest luxuriance in tree and jungle. As it is within 

 the region of mist and clouds, it is well watered and furnishes conditions in every 

 Avay suited to plant growth. It is in this zone that the native Hawaiian 

 flora finds its fullest development. The tree ferns, the giant koa, the ohia and 

 kamani forests are the predominating species. Though none of these larger and 

 more important growths are wholly confined to this region, it is here that they 

 reach their maximum of size and development. 



On visiting the region one is impressed at once by the number and variety 

 of ferns to be found in this zone. Probably the most important among them 

 are the giant tree ferns, the hapu^" and hapu ili "•'' and the smaller amaumau^^ 

 being the most striking. The hapu with trunks that are from a few inches to 

 three feet in diameter and often fifteen to thirty feet in height are especially 

 abundant aljout Kilauea and there reach their greatest development. Their 

 plume-like fronds are often fifteen feet or more in length, giving the top a 

 spread of more than twenty-five feet. The native name hapu has been applied 

 to two or three closely allied species. But with the conmiercial importance the 

 tree gained a few years ago through the use made of the soft, glossy, yellowish 

 wool at the base of the young leaves, these and other large ferns have come to be 

 known as piilu ferns, pulu being the name of the wool-like fiber from the fern. 

 The fiber was used to some extent in stuffing mattresses and pillows, and in a 



•■'^ naliseris pidi/iogramma. •''* Myoporiim Sandwicense. ^^ Srmi^oln Chamissoniana. 



'" Musa sa/nenttim. ^7 Cibotiuin Chaviissoi. 38 Cibotium Menziesii. 



^' -Sadleria Soulej/tianri on O.ihn ; S. pallida on Hawaii, and .V. ryafheoides on all islands at lower 

 elevations. 



