Euphorbiaceae. 



usually of 4 glands. Female flowers unknown. Fruit a globose berry, reddish-black, with 

 persistent calyx. Endocarp of 3 thin membraneous' cocci each with two seeds, rarely 4, 

 vhich are enclosed in an arillus. Embryo filling the whole cavity of the seed, cotyledons 

 flat, subrotundous. radicle exserted. albumen scanty. An unarmed tree with alternate, 

 ovate, glabrous, entire leaves. Flowers in fascicles all along the stipulate branchlets. 



This proposed new genus, which is here dedicated to the memory of the author's 

 compatriot, Dr. IT. Wawra, Ritter von Fernsee, of the Austrian Exploring Ex- 

 pedition, consists of a single remarkable species, of which only three male and 

 one female trees are in existence. It is evidently related to Phyllanthus. Owing 

 to the fruit being a berry it would come closer to Bischofia, from which it, how- 

 ever, differs in the presence of a discus and the fasciculate inflorescence. 



t 



Neowawraea phyllanthoides Rock sp. nov. 



A tree 10 to 12 m high, with a straight trunk of about 4 dm or more in diameter; 

 bark light brown, rough and scaly; branches semi-erect, with many small branchlets 

 which are covered with light gray, oblong lenticels; leaves ovate, rounded or truncate at 

 the base, bluntly acute at the apex, light green above, glaucous underneath, penni- 

 nerved, the lateral veins nearly parallel, at angles of about 60 to the midrib, thin, 

 chartaceous, glossy above, dull underneath, glabrous, 8 to 14 cm long, 4 to 9 cm wide, on 

 petioles of 15 to 20 mm; stipules triangular, subcaudate, membraneous, caducous; in- 

 florescence axillary, fasciculate, all along the branchlets; male flowers in dense fascicles or 

 close clusters, very small 1.5 mm in diameter, on short pedicels of 2 mm, which are sur- 

 rounded at the base by several roundish bracts, in the shape of a cup, out of whose 

 center the pedicels arise. The 5 sepals are minute, unequal, petals wanting, stamens 3 

 to 4, rarely 5, inserted between the sinuses of an hypogynous disc, usually consisting of 

 4 glands, female flowers not known; fruit an indehiscent globose berry, 6 mm in diameter, 

 with the calyx persistent, reddish-black, juicy, staining purplish, endocarp thin mem- 

 braneous, divided into three cocci, each with two arillate seeds, rarely 4; seeds pale 

 yellow, about 2 mm long, convex outside, acute angled inside, hilum suborbicular to ovate 

 situated in the upper third of the seed; embryo 2.3 mm long, cotyledons flat, filling the 

 whole cavity of the seed, 1 mm long, 1.3 mm wide, radicle 1 mm, protruding; albumen 

 scanty. 



This very interesting and remarkable tree, for which an old native Hawaiian 

 gave the name Mehamehame, is exceedingly rare, only three males and one female 

 tree being in existence. In regard to the native name, the writer is not inclined 

 to accept it. The outward appearance of the tree resembles somewhat our Ha- 

 waiian Antidesma, which are also called Home or Mehame or Mehamehame. The 

 old native might have easily taken it for such. It is very doubtful if the natives 

 ever had a name for the tree, as it is peculiar to such a small area, located in 

 a most inhospitable place on the southern flanks of the great volcano Mauna Loa 

 on rough aa lava flows, made accessible only very recently. 



It was discovered by the writer in the above locality at an elevation of 2000 

 feet, called Kapua, during the month of February, 1912 ; but was at that time 

 neither in flower nor in fruit. A careful search of the ground beneath the 

 trees, revealed no sign of seeds of a previous season. This, however, was ex- 

 plained on a later visit in the month of July (15), 1912, in company with Mr. 

 AV. M. Giffard, when it w r as found that the trees first examined were all male and 

 in flower. Only one other tree was seen, which fortunately turned out to be a 

 female tree bearing fruit. It is a striking tree of medium height, and is quite 



245 



