Leguminosae. 



Erythrina monosperma Gaud. 

 Wiliwili. 



(Plate 75.) 



ERYTHRINA MONOSPERMA Gaud. Bot. Voy. Uranie (1826) 486, pi. 114; Hook, et 

 Am. Bot. Beech. (1832) 81; Endl. Fl. Suds. (1836) no. 1641; A. Gray U. S. E. E. 

 (1854) 444; H. Mann 1. c. p. 163, et Fl. Haw. Isl. (1867) 185; Sinclair Indig, 

 Fl. Haw. Isl. (1885) pi. 18; Hbd. Fl. Haw. Isl. (1888) 99; Del Cast. 111. Fl. Ins. 

 Mar. Pacif. VI (1890) 151, et Fl. Polyn. Franc. (1893) 47; Heller PI. Haw. IsL 

 (1897) 834. E. montana Forst. in Pancher, Herb., et iu Cuzent, Tahiti (1860) 

 240. E. tahitensis Nadeaud Enum. (1873) n. 499. Corallodendron monosperum O 

 Ktze. Rev. Gen. PI. I. (1891) 173. 



Leaflets ovate or deltoid, broader than long 5 to 6.5 cm x 6.5 to 9 cm, obtuse, entire, 

 truncate or subcordate at the base, chartaceous, tomentose underneath; the petiole of the 

 terminal leaflet 10 to 25 cm long, the petiolules of the lateral ones 5 mm; stipules 

 gland-like; racemes in the axils of the ultimate leaves, fulvo-tomentose, stout, dense, 

 nodose, with two or one flowers at a node, 15 to 20 cm long; bracts 2 mm or less; 

 pedicels 4 to 8 mm; calyx thickly tomentose; minutely toothed; flowers pale yellow or 

 brick red; vexilum 25 to 50 mm nearly as broad as long, about 3 times longer than the 

 obtuse alae and carina; stamens about as long as the vexilum; anthers pointed, versatile; 

 ovary tomentose, about 12 mm long, stipitate 3 to 5 ovuled, half the length of the style; 

 pod 35 to 50 mm long, 1 to many seeded (the name monosperma is badly chosen) ; seeds- 

 about 12 mm, bright red. 



The Wiliwili is a medium-sized tree of 20 to 30 feet, with stiff, gnarled 

 branches and a spreading crown. The trunk is usually short, with few conical 

 prickle's on its otherwise smooth, thin, yellowish bark. It is usually of very 

 large diameter, often 3 to 4 feet and more. The Wiliwili has the reputation of 

 having the lightest wood of any of our island trees. It loses its leaves in the 

 early fall or late summer and flowers from early spring to June or July, accord- 

 ing to environment, before the new leaves appear, though sometimes flowers and 

 leaves may be found together. The former are of a brick-red or white color, 

 and not altogether unhandsome. The bright-red seeds are usually single, one 

 in a pod, from which the tree derives its specific name monosperma (one- 

 seeded). It is called tiger 's-claw by the foreigners, on account of its flowers, 

 which are claw-shaped. 



The Wiliwili is the feature of lowland vegetation up to 1500 feet. It thrives 

 best in the hottest and driest districts on the leeward sides of all the islands, es- 

 pecially on the scoria and among rocks. It grows usually in company with 

 Myoporum sandwicense (Naio), Reynoldsia sandwicensis, Nototrichium sandwi- 

 cense, etc. It is characteristic of the lava fields of North Kona, Hawaii, on the 

 west end of Molokai, the gorges of Mauna Lei and Nahoku on Lanai, the lava 

 fields on the southern slopes of Haleakala, Maui, in the dry canyons on Kauai, and 

 even on the barren Island of Kahoolawe a few trees are still in existence. (See- 

 Plate XXVII.) 



The very soft, white wood of the Wiliwili was and is still used by the na- 

 tives for outriggers on their fishing canoes, but since it has become more and 

 more scarce, the Hau is used as a substitute. The pretty red seeds are strung 

 into leis and worn by the native women ; those sold as Wiliwili leis in the curio' 

 shops are not of the native Wiliwili, but are the seeds of the so-called Red San- 



191 



