Epacridaceae. 



Th. Nuttal in Transact. Am. Phil. S'oc. VIII. (1843) 270; A. Gray 

 Proc. Am. Acad. V. (1862) 325; Mann Proc. Am. Ac. VII. (1867) 188; 

 Wawra in Flora (1873) 59; Hbd. PI. Haw. Isl. (1888) 272; Del Cast. 111. PI. Ins. 

 Mar. Pac. VII. (1892) 224; Heller PI. Haw. Isl. in Minnes. Bot. Stud. Bull. IX. 

 (1897) 872. 



Leaves stiff coriaceous, linear or oblong 8-12 mm long, 2-4 mm broad, on broadish 

 petioles of less than 1 mm, acute or somewhat obtuse, shortly mucronate, cuneate or some- 

 what obtuse at the base, naked, smooth above, waxy-white or glaucous underneath and 

 striate with 9-13 longitudinal nerves, which fork or branch more or less, particularly in 

 the obovate leaves; peduncle with flower shorter than the leaf; bracts (5-9) and sepals 

 obtuse coriaceous; corolla whitish, 3 mm long, the tube included in the calyx, the acute 

 lobes V-2 the length of the tube, with 5 lines of hairlets running down the tube; anthers 

 oblong, obtuse, subexserted, about as long as their filaments; disc small; ovary 5-8 celled; 

 style as long as the ovary, thick tapering; drupe globose 4-6 mm in diameter, red, white 

 or pink, rather dry; seeds ovoid, with thin testa; embryo axile two-third the length of the 

 mealy albumen, the radicle scarcely distinguishable from the cotyledons. 



The Pukeaive, or as it is also called Maiele, Puakeawe and Kawau on Lanai, 

 is a shrub in the lower elevations, but becomes a small tree 10-15 feet in height 

 in the upper regions at 6000-7000 feet elevation. The trunk is rather twisted 

 and vested in a finely corrugated brown bark; the tallest specimens were ob- 

 served by the writer on the upper slopes of Mt. Hualalai on Hawaii at an eleva- 

 tion of 6000 feet. The species occurs on all the islands of the group and can be 

 found at all elevations. The species besides being found in Hawaii exists also 

 in Tahiti and Eimeo of the Society group. 



Interesting legends are connected with this plant in Hawaii ; it was a favorite 

 of the Kahuna or native priest. David Malo, the Hawaiian historian, tells us 

 that it was used in incremating the body of any one who had made himself an 

 outlaw beyond the protection of the tabu. Dr. N. Emerson gives an interesting 

 explanation of this procedure of incremation. He also says : ' ' When a kapu-chief 

 found it convenient to lay aside his dread exclusiveness for a time, that he might 

 perhaps mingle with people on equal terms without injury to them or to himself, 

 it was the custom for him and according to one authority those with whom he 

 intended to mingle joined with him in the ceremony to shut himself into a 

 little house and smudge himself with the smoke from a fire of the Pukeawe 

 shrub. At the conclusion of this fumigation a priest recited a Pule Huikala 

 prayer for a dispensation. 



The Pukeawa is familiar to all who have been at all in the Hawaiian forests, 

 especially around the Volcano of Kilauea on Hawaii where the plant is very 

 common in company with the Olelo berries. It is very striking on account of 

 its heath-like appearance, and the white or red dry berries. On the high 

 mountains at from 10,000 feet elevation up to the limit of plant growth occurs 

 another species, which is a shrub. Its scientific name, which was Cyathodes 

 imbricata Stschegleew, will have to be changed, as there is already a St. im- 

 bricata in that genus as a synonym, and therefore will be known from now on 

 as Styphelia Gray ana (Stschegleew) Eock. 



366 



