Rubiaceae. 



This exceedingly interesting Straussia, with decidedly specific characters, is a 

 tree 12 to 20 feet high with ascending branches and is remarkable for the very long 

 pendulous panicles, the longest in the genus. It is restricted as far as known 

 to Nuuanu Valley in one of the small side gulches of Konahuanui, along a small 

 streambed at a thousand feet elevation. It is associated with Charpentiera obo- 

 vata, Hibiscus Arnottianus, Perrottettia sandwicensis, Cyrtandra and others. 



It was collected when in company with Mr. Gerrit P. Wilder, flowering and 

 fruiting May, 1912. The type is No. 10200 in the College of Hawaii Herbarium. 



Straussia oncocarpa Hbcl. 

 Kopiko. 



STEAUSSIA ONCOCAEPA Hbd. Flora Haw. Isl. (1888) 180; Del Cast. 111. Fl. Ins. Mar. 

 Pae. VI. (1890) 197. 



Leaves obovate or suborbicular 5 to 7.5 cm long, 3.75 cm wide, on petioles of 4 to 12 

 mm, rounded at both ends, subcoriaceous, pubescent underneath, the costal glands hidden 

 under the hairs; stipules triangular, obtuse 3 to 4 mm; panicle short, 2.5 to 5 cm long, 

 bearing one whorl of short rays, rusty-pubescent, as are also the calyx and corolla; calyx 

 distinctly dentate; corolla naked at the throat, its tube 4 mm; the lobes as long; drupe 

 obovoid, 4-ribbed, tumid at the base, 12 mm long, 8 mm wide, with a small disc. 



Hillebrand records this species from Ulupalakua, Maui, only. The writer col- 

 lected the typical St. oncocarpa on the Island of Lanai, (nos. 8024 and 8025) at 

 the head of Waiakiola gulch, at an elevation of 2800 feet. It is a tall tree 40 

 to 50 feet in height. The leaves are on slender petioles of little over 2.5 cm, 

 about twice as long as in Hillebrand 's specimens. On East Maui specimens 

 were collected of this species which answer the original description in every detail 

 with the exception that some of the leaves are subcordate at the base and strongly 

 nerved (no. 8540) ; this latter tree occurs in the open drier gulches back of 

 Makawao and is only about 25 feet tall. In the same locality occurs a tree 

 which must be referred to the same species, the leaves are larger, pale green 

 the panicle is 1 to 2 whorled, otherwise as in the species. 



Hillebrand 's var. ,5. the writer collected on Kauai at Kaholuamano, probably 

 the type locality (no. 1935) fruiting, March 3-10, 1909. The panicles are shorter, 

 less than 2.5 cm and contracted; the leaves are obovate-oblong and rounded, 

 though cuneate at the base. 



Var. subcordata Rock var. nov. 



Leaves as in the species, but thin chartaceous, glabrous on both sides and subcordate 

 at the base, on very short petioles; panicles of 3 whorls, pubescent, slender, 12 cm long in- 

 cluding the peduncle, which measures often more than 7 cm; calyx-limb dentate; corolla 

 lobes half the length of the tube. 



This variety occurs at the Wailau pali on the Island of Molokai, at an eleva- 

 tion of 4000 feet. It is a small tree 25 feet in height. Collected April, 1910, 

 flowering, no. 7072 in the College of Hawaii Herbarium. 



448 



