PREFACE:. 



It has long been the writer's desire to give to the public a volume on the na- 

 tive trees of Hawaii, giving popular as well as technical descriptions of the trees 

 peculiar to Hawaiian soil. 



At first it was thought that plain popular descriptions would suffice, but it 

 soon became evident that the technical part could not be dispensed with, and in 

 order to make the book valuable for both the layman and the scientist, it was 

 therefore included. 



The rather lengthy introduction seemed an advisable feature and necessary, 

 as it gives practically for the first time a more or less detailed description of all 

 the floral regions and their plant associations found in this island group, not 

 being restricted to trees alone but embracing the whole plant covering. 



In the sequence of families Engler and Prantl's Natiirliche Pflanzenfamilien 

 System has been followed, beginning with the Cryptogams and ending with the 

 Compositae. 



Under each species a complete reference and synonomy is given, as far as 

 was possible. Of course, as in all works of this nature, mistakes will un- 

 doubtedly be found, which will have to be overlooked on account of the insular 

 position of the writer, as it was not always possible to consult original works, 

 some of them old and out of print and therefore unobtainable. It will not be 

 out of place here to acknowledge the kind assistance of Miss Mary A. Day, the 

 Librarian of the Gray Herbarium, for the loan of books and copies of articles, etc. 



Following the reference is a technical description, usually enlarged and based 

 on material in the College of Hawaii Herbarium ; only in such instances as when 

 the plant is very common or has not been collected by the writer, are descrip- 

 tions of old authors quoted. As far as possible native names are given under 

 most of the trees in italics, as well as any legendary or other facts of sufficient 

 interest, together with habitat, plant association, etc. Of a number of trees of 

 which nothing is known of a popular nature, the technical side is enlarged upon, 

 especially in the family Rutaceae (genus Pelea) and Campanulaceae (tribe Lo- 

 belioideae). 



The writer wishes here to acknowledge above all the kind assistance of Prof. 

 Dr. Ignatz Urban of Berlin, Prof. Le Comte of Paris, Prof. Dr. A. Zahlbruckner 

 of Vienna and Profs. B. L. Robinson and M. L. Fernald of Harvard, in the loan 

 of herbarium material, mainly types, for comparison, without which the authen- 

 ticity of many determinations would have been doubtful; this refers mainly to 

 the tribe Lobelioideae of the family Campanulaceae, one of the most intricate 

 tribes found in these Islands. 



