INTRODUCED PLANTS AND ANDIALS. 245 



tribiited by the mynah birds. The larger species withonl doubt eame orig-in;ill\- 

 from India, but has been extensively planted in warm climates everywhere. 



The tamarind/'* a name which, by the way, is derived from the Arabic mean- 

 i]iu' "Indian date," is an exceptionally beautiful and useful tro^jical tree. It 

 attains a great height and its delicate acacia-like foliage crowded together so 

 as to produce a dense head makes it a shade tree that is considered by all 

 travelers to be one of the noblest in the tropics. It is probably ;i luilive of India 

 or Africa, but has been generally introduced in tropical eounlrics. The pods, 

 numerous and from three to six inches long, coiilain an acid pulp that in tlie 

 islands is made the base of a cooling drink of much the same character as that 

 made from lemons or limes. Occasionally the pulp is also used in making a 

 delicious tamarind butter, but as a general rule they are allowed to fall to the 

 ground or to be carried off by roving children. The wood is greatly esteemed 

 in the manufacture of furniture. It is 3'ellowish-white, sometimes Avitli ^ari- 

 colored sap streaks, and is very hard and close-grained. 



The Banian. 



The Banian (or Banyan) tree, a name derived from the fact that it fni'uished 

 shelter for the open markets of the banians, or Hindu merchants, and therefore 

 literally a "market place," is a common tree in Honolulu. The family to which 

 it belongs is well represented in the gardens and parks of the city, there being 

 at least a dozen or more of the large arboreal species that can be easily recog- 

 nized, usually, though not always, by the pendant aerial roots. The Banians 

 all belong to the great order'' to which the common fig i" ; the Indian ru])i)er 

 plant, ^1 the Bengal banian tree,^- and the creeping fig^-^ on our garden walls, as 

 w^ell as some six hundred other similar species scattered throughout the tropics, 

 are referred. The most ornamental plant, perhaps, is the India rubber plant. But 

 the great spread of the typical banian tree, which sends down some of its 

 branches or aerial roots that in time take root in the soil, is one ()f the largest 

 and most thrifty-looking trees growing in Hawaii. ]\Iany of the felateil s|)ecies 

 have the same or similar methods of reproduction. 



Pepper Tree. 



Among other important shade trees in the islands must he mentione-l the 

 pepper tree^-^ that grows so extensively throughout California. It is easily 

 recognized by its graceful, swaying branches and red berry-like clusters of fruits 

 about the size of peppercorns, from whicli resemblance it derives its po[)ular 

 though misleading California name. 



The kamani,^'"' or tropical almond, often planted for llie sli.ide ntVoi-ded by 

 its broad, horizontal l)ranches and large, broad leaves, is ;ni iiilrodiiced s|)ecies 

 coming origiiuilly from Asia. Before the leaves fall 1liey lak-e on the brilli.-mt 

 autumn colors common in cold climates, and thus add much to tlieii- i)ictures(pie 

 beautv. The tree is also known as tlie Demei-ai'a aluiond. on ■•iccount of the 



^ Tamariiulii.i I iidicd, " C liiciuwir. '" /'i'ck.s- (iirirn. '' F'uiix ihslicd. ^'- Finis licinilKiloi.tif!. 



"^^ Ficiifi iiiniiitii. ^* Schinus Molle. ^■' Terminal in ciita jiiiii . 



