BOTANICAL NOTES. 305 



The Flotation of Fruits in Sea-Water. — I made a few experiments on the 

 fruits of this region, the results of which I here append. The fruits wcro 

 all ripe and not dried. 



(1.) Fruits that ^oa< in sea-water.^ 



Oocos nucifera Ochrosia parviflora. 



Areca catechu (Betel-nut). Heritiera littoralis. 



■Cycas circinnils.^ Cerbera odoUam. 



J'andanus (three littoral species). Harpullia cupanioides. 



Nipa frutioirs. Mj-ristica sp. (ito-ito). 



Barringtonia speciosa. Kiedelia curvifiora. 1 



Calophyllura inopbyllum. Thespesia populnea. 



Calophyllum sp. (katari). Gomphandra - s[). (ninizilo). 



(2.) Fruits that sinh in sea- water. 



Parinarium laurinum.^ Areca sp. (momo). 



Licuala sp. (firo). Caryota sp. (eala). 



Areca sp. (torulo). 



The weeds, rubhish-plants, and shrubs, commonly found in old clearings 

 and in the waste-ground of the adtivated 2^(''tches in Bougainiille 

 Straits. 



One of the commonest plants in the islands of Bougainville Straits is the 

 Erianthemum variabile, which is frequently found growing at the sides of the 

 paths. The spurges, Euphorbia inlulifera and E. Atoto, are usually found 

 in the waste-ground around villages. In the cultivated patches clumps of 

 , the handsome flowering reed, Pennisetum macrostachys ("orsopa"), which 

 grows to a height of nine or ten feet, are often conspicuous. In one place 

 may be seen the tall shrub, Khdnkovia Hospita ("lafai "), the inflated fruits 

 of which are eaten by the cockatoos. In another place the botanist may 

 recognise the Canna indica (Indian Shot : " sati "), and near by perhaps 

 Coix Lackryma (.lob's tears : ''ken-ken"), both of which plants have been 

 probably introduced originally from the Malay Archipelago. Solomon 

 Islanders occasionally wear the seeds of Coix Lachryma as a personal orna- 

 ment. They are also used for this purpose by the Admiralty Islanders, 

 and by the natives of some parts of New (xuinea. Scented labiate plants 

 -are very frequent in the waste-ground of the plantations, and the natives 

 are fond of wearing them in their armlets. Amongst them I may mention 

 Moschosma polystachyum ("pipituan") iivA Ocy7ntmi sanctum {^'■luvAinxwn"). 

 The "luk-a-luk" {Evcdia hortensis), which is a favourite scented plant, is 

 commonly found in the same situations. The tiny plant, Oxalis cornicu- 

 lata, may clothe a bare patch of groiuid ; whilst in another part of the 

 plantation, Commelyne nudijiora may similarly be observed. Numerous 

 composite plants, such as Vernonia cinerea, Adenostemma viscosum, etc.. 

 form a conspicuous feature among the rubbish-plants in these cultivated 

 patches. The Codi(JEi(m variegatum (" tiatakush ''), with its very singularly- 



1 The following fruits and seeds, taken from my dried collection of plants, float in sea- 

 water. I did not experiment on them in the green condition. . . . Pongamia glabra : Coix 

 Lachryma : Scsevola Koenigii : Touinefortia aigentea. 



2 Out of ten fruits experimented on, only one floated. 



3 This tree is widely distributed throughout tlie group, which may be due to the circum- 

 etance of its resin being generally employed in caulking canoes- 



U 



