Naio shrubs are St. calaminthoides and SI. scrophidarioides, the latter with small 

 pale yellow flowers covered with silky hair. The genus Phyllostegia, also of the 

 Labiate family, has several species. Raillardia scabra is also common on the aa 

 as well as Smilax sandwicensis, and several ferns, of which Pellaea terni folia 

 and Sadleria cyatheoides are the most common. And all of these in a compara- 

 tively small area. Clermontia coerulea is here a fine tree, growing to a height 

 of 20 feet or so, on the aa lava, shaded by Ohia and Sandalwood. 



This forest merges gradually into the great central plain at an elevation of 

 5000 feet. Of course, clumps of tall trees can be found in certain localities and 

 on the plateau also, as well as higher up on the slopes of Mauna Loa. The 

 trees become smaller and only a few stunted Naio and Sophora trees (Mamani), 

 together with Santalum, are here to be found. 



At Pulehua and beyond toward Mauna Loa a nice Koa forest, mixed with 

 trees peculiar to this elevation, such as mentioned above, extends up to an ele- 

 vation of 6000 feet. Koa is the principal tree. The country is composed of 

 rich, black soil, now supporting a rank growth of undesirable weeds. A most 

 interesting feature in this forest is the lobeliaceous Delissea undidata. Pre- 

 viously this plant has only been recorded from Niihau, Kauai and Maui, and 

 that at a low elevation on exposed open cliffs, only reaching a height of 10 feet. 

 Here 'at 6000 feet it grows under the shade of giant Koa trees on the slopes of 

 the numerous crater hills with which the country is covered. The plant grows 

 here 35 feet tall, perfectly straight, with a bole only two inches in diameter, not 

 branching, and bearing at its apex a crown of leaves only one and a half feet 

 in diameter. (See plate XVII.) These beautiful little round crowns are often 

 hidden in the foliage of the Koa, so that only the gray, straight stems covered 

 with leaf-scars can be seen. The plants are exceedingly numerous, but especially 

 on the crater bottoms of the numerous volcanic cones, where they form the main 

 vegetation. Looking down into one of these cones, one sees the tops of this 

 curious plant like cabbage heads protruding up to the rim of the cone. This is 

 the only lobeliaceous plant at this elevation. 



THE GREAT CENTRAL PLAIN. 



When we step out on this great plateau from the South Kona side, we have 

 Hualalai to the left, Mauna Loa to the right, and Mauna Kea in front of us. 

 This great plain is composed mainly of pahoehoe lava and black cinder. The 

 palwelioe lava has often broken through, and huge caverns or caves are visible, 

 which expose again old palwelioe lava or black cinder. The clouds gather at 

 about eight o'clock in the morning around the slopes of Mauna Loa up to an 

 elevation of 4000 feet, where they remain under normal weather conditions up 

 to noon. At about two o'clock they encroach on to the central plateau, which 

 by three o'clock is completely covered by the clouds. When caught out on this 

 plain without a compass in the fogs it is indeed exceedingly difficult to find 

 one's way. The plain is about fifty miles across and almost level, full of holes 



45 



