The writer crossed the Naalehu forest diagonally toward Kahuku up to the 

 source of the 1868 lava flow, at an elevation of about 6600 feet. The main trees 

 above 5000 feet elevation are Metrosideros polymorpha, the Ohio, leliua, usually 

 tall trees with rather straight trunks, which are enwrapped with moss and 

 epiphytic ferns; the Cheirodendron Gaudichaudii (Olapa) is the next most 

 common, with Suttonia Lessertiana. 



The undergrowth is exceedingly dense and is composed mainly of Rubus 

 Hawaiiensis, which is covered with fine aculeate spines which adhere to and 

 penetrate into the flesh very easily when touched. It grows here erect, 5 to 8 

 feet high, and was almost void of foliage (January). It has one main stem 

 tapering toward the end without even small branchlets, having the shape of a 

 whip. Ferns are also common, mainly Dryopteris globulifera, Sadleria, and 

 here and there a Cibotium. At an elevation of 5600 feet Ohio, leliua is the prin- 

 cipal tree. Associated with it, curiously enough, is the small-leaved Suttonia 

 sandivicensis (Kolea), which is here a tree 18 to 25 feet in height with a straight 

 trunk of 5 to 6 inches in diameter. The undershrubs are mainly Coprosma with 

 rambling branches, Broussaisia pellucida, and Pipturus. The soil is still rich 

 and muddy, and is often covered with tussocks of Astelia veratroides, the large- 

 leaved form usually found to be terrestrial. At about 5000 feet, where in other 

 localities a forest of this type would gradually change into an open, flat swamp 

 like Puukukui on West Maui, or Waialeale on Kauai, the land here becomes 

 drier, and the first pahoehoe lava becomes visible. The transition vegetation is 

 stunted, though some straight, tall Oliia trees are not uncommon, while a pecu- 

 liar low-growing Sadleria forms the undershrub. The most interesting fact is 

 the absence of Acacia Koa in the entire stretch of forest between Hilea and 

 Waiohinu, as well as of Sophora chrysophylla, which is not found even on the 

 open pahoehoe lava field which supports the following vegetation belonging to 

 the upper forest zone : Eaillardia sp., a small shrub 4 to 5 feet high, grows to- 

 gether with Vaccinium reticulatum, and an undescribed variety of the same 

 which is much taller and has a bluish-purple glaucous berry, with orbicular 

 glaucous leaves. Geranium cuneatum var. ft. forms small shrubs with stout, stiff 

 branchlets; the leaves are silvery underneath. It is usually plentiful on ele- 

 vated crusts of pahoehoe lava which have become fissured, and covers them com- 

 pletely together with Styphelia tameiameia and St. imbricata and Raillardia, 

 forming densely-wooded mounds. Coprosma ernodeoides, a rubiaceous creeper 

 with black, round berries, abounds, besides the Chilean strawberry, Fragaria 

 Chilensis, the cyperaceous Gahnia Gaudichaudii, Carex sandwicensis, while the 

 juncaceous Luzula Hawaiiensis Buch., which has all the aspects of a Cyperaceae, 

 and Sisyrynchium acre of the order Iridaceae are growing scattered between the 

 lava cracks. Lycopodium venustulum and the Gramineae Koehleria glomerata 

 and Deschampsia australis can also be met with. 



36 



