Notes on the Flora of Molokini. 



the island. Mr. Maiki, the caretaker, tells me that with his son 

 he has shot many pigeons which had corn in their crops, and 

 hence, probably had flown across the channel from Kula, Maui. 



Under a more favorable period of weather conditions Nieotiana 

 glauca and Prosopis jidifloj-a are probably the only two woody 

 plants whose spread could be noticed. The former will eventually 

 spread over a much greater area than at present, especially on 

 the rocky slopes, Prosopis jnliflora will spread up the gulches, 

 provided there are horses or mules to carry the seed during the 

 fruiting season. 



Molokini is a small crescent-shaped island lying midway 

 in the channel between Maui and Kahoolawe. It is the eroded 

 remnant of an old tufa cone, somewhat comparable to Koko crater 

 on Oahu. The greatest elevation is i6o feet, the length along the 

 ridge being about looo feet. The inner slopes of the crescent 

 have an angle of 32.25 degrees, the outer edge being a nearh^ 

 vertical cliff of 73.30 degrees. The only flat area consists of a 

 small space about twelve feet wide and fifteen feet long. 



Since 191 1 an intermittent flashlight has been established on 

 the island. There is no place where floating seeds could by an}- 

 means become established, and all plants must be carried to the 

 island by other means. Land birds occasionally visit the island, 

 one member of the expedition observing a lark. The following 

 plants were observed. All are what one might expect to find in 

 such a locality. They form a fairly good vegetable covering over 

 the island. 



FlIvICES. 



Doryopteris decipiens (Hk.) J. vSm. 

 Pteris decipiens Hook. 



GRAMINEAE. 

 Heteropogon contorttis Roem & vSch. 



CYPERACEAE. 

 CytJerus, sp. 



NYCTAGINACEAE. 

 Boerhavia diiFusa L. 



[91] 



