Malvaceae. 



with a stellate tomentum, palmately 7-nerved, with hispid glands in the angles of ribs 

 and veins on both sides; stipules small triangular caducous; flowers solitary or several in 

 the axils of the leaves on the ends of the branches; bracteoles 5 to 7 very narrow, 2 cm 

 long, free, filiform; calyx saccate, deeply and unevenly 2 to 3 cleft, lobes acuminate, many- 

 nerved, yellowish green outside, with stellate hairs, glabrous inside; corolla convolute, 

 curved, only the very apex slightly opening, on account of the almost completely con- 

 torted aestivation; on pedicels of 2 to 3 cm, petals 5 to 6 cm long acute at the apex, 

 oblong very uneven-sided, deep magenta inside, grayish-green outside with a stellate 

 hispid tomentum on the exposed parts, especially on the prominent nerves; staminal 

 column 1/3 longer than the petals, with numerous long filaments on nearly half its length, 

 hispid at its base; style branches sub-erect 5 mm, hispid; stigmas flesh-colored; capsule 

 coriaceous to woody oblong tapering toward the apex 4 to 5 cm x 2 to 2.5 cm, broadest 

 at the base, rugose, yellowish-green, covered with stellate hairs; the calyx and bracteoles 

 deciduous before maturation of fruit; endocarp chartaceous shining glabrous, loose; seeds 

 large 7 to 10 mm, reniform, covered with dirty whitish-gray wool. 



The Hau Kualnici is a remarkable tree. At first appearance one would think 

 it to be the common Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus), but at closer inspection one can- 

 not but wonder at the most peculiar shape of the flowers, which are of a deep 

 magenta, and the large yellowish tuberculate capsules. It is a rather low tree, 

 with not erect but rather inclining trunk of a foot in diameter, with a many- 

 branching round crown. The genus ' ' Hibiscadelphus, " meaning "brother of 

 Hibiscus," was described by the author and the species named in honor of Mr. 

 W. M. Giffard of Honolulu, in whose company the writer collected his first 

 specimens. 



It differs from the genus Hibiscus in its very peculiar flowers and mainly in 

 the calyx, which is not persistent with the capsules, but drops together with 

 the bracts as soon as the capsules are formed. 



Unfortunately the tree, of which a specimen is figured in this book, is the only 

 one in existence. It is unique among all Hawaiian plants, and the author is 

 sorry to relate that nothing has been done to protect it. Like many other Ha- 

 waiian trees, it will succumb to the ravages of cattle, which inhabit a great many 

 of our native forests. 



This single tree is found on a small Kipuka of 56 acres called Puaulu, on the 

 land of Keauhou, near Kilauea Volcano, at an elevation of 4200 feet, on the 

 Island of Hawaii. It is surrounded by a great many rare trees, which will share 

 its fate sooner or later. Among them are beautiful trees of Sapindus saponaria, 

 Pelea, Xanthoxylum, Urera, Straussia, Ochrosia, etc. 



The genus consists of three species the above described one on Hawaii, one 

 on Maui with only a single tree left, and the third on Hualalai, Hawaii. The 

 wood is white, not so soft as in the Hau, while the bark is whitish and fibrous. 



Hibiscadelphus Wilderianus Rock. 

 Hau kuahiwi. 



HIBISCADELPHUS WILDERIANUS Rock in Bull. Haw Bd. of Agric. & For. I. (1911) 

 12. pi. 5. 



A tree 5 m, trunk erect; leaves orbicular in outline trilobed wavy, cordate with a 

 broad sinus at the base, with subacute or blunt apex, on petioles of 7 to 10 cm, palmately 

 5 to 7 nerved, puberulous above, with minute stellate hair underneath; nerves prominent, 



299 



