Thymelaeaceae-Myrtaceae. 



Wikstroemia furcata (Hbd.) Rock. 

 Akia. 



WIKSTROEMIA FURCATA (Hbd.) Bock. Wikstroemia sandwicensis Meisn. var. furcata 

 Hbd. Flora Haw. Isl. (1888) 386; Del Cast. 111. Fl. Ins. Mar. Pac. VII. (1892) 

 280. 



Leaves 6 to 14 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide, dark green above, pale underneath, glabrous 

 on both sides, shortly contracted at the base, acute or rounded or subcordate, acute or 

 obtuse at the apex, on petioles of 4 to 8 mm, chartaceous; spikes 5 to 7.5 cm long re- 

 peatedly forking 3 to 5 times, yellowish pubescent, many flowered, the perianth silky 

 tomentose on a pedicel of 2 mm, tube of perianth yellowish, about 4 mm, the spreading 

 lobes acute, about one third the length of the tube, apex of ovary silky pubescent, as well 

 as the short style and thick stigma; drupes much larger than in 'IT. Mindicieeiisis, 15 mm 

 long, ovoid, bright red; seed ovoid to acute, testa thin, black, and shining. 



Found on Kauai, especially in the swampy jungles back of Kaholuamano and 

 Halemanu at an elevation of 4000 feet. It certainly is a very striking plant, 

 especially during the month of October, when the small trees are loaded with 

 the rather large, bright red fruits. The branches are erect and not drooping, 

 and rather stout. 



It differs from W. sandwicensis in the long and many-forked spike, the large 

 leaves, and the large bright red drupes. The native name, like that of all 

 other species, is Akia. 



MYRTACEAE1 



The family Myrtaceae consists of 72 genera with about 2750 species, which 

 belong to two main evolutional centers, one in tropical America, the other on 

 the Australian continent. It is less numerous in species in Polynesia, tropical 

 Asia, Africa and subtropical America. In the Mediterranean region only one 

 species occurs, the ordinary Myrtle. The family cannot adapt itself to cold 

 climates; only a few species of Eucalypti occur in such regions in Tasmania 

 as are covered with snow r for several months in the year. 



In the Hawaiian Islands four genera are represented, three of which possess 

 one species each, while the genus Metrosideros has several species, of which one 

 occurs from sea-level to 9000 feet elevation in the most varied forms. 



Of early introduction are the various Guayava species (Guava) and of late 

 the genus Eucalyptus, with about 60 to 70 species. 



KEY TO THE GENEEA. 



Fruit a berry. 



Petals falling off single; staminal discus distinct Jambosa 



Petals cohering, falling off together; staminal discus not distinct Syzygium 



Fruit a capsule Metrosideros 



JAMBOSA DC. 



Keceptacle obconical, funnel-shaped, cup-shaped or cylindrical, gradually tapering into 

 the peduncle, and prolonged over the ovary; dilated discus-like at the insertion of the 

 stamens. Calyx lobes comparatively large, usually semicircular. Flowers single or in 

 terminal or lateral cymes or corymbs. 



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