An Enumeration of Niihau Plants. 19 



changes which are the direct result of man's industry and civiliza- 

 tion. When Dr. Brigham first visited the island there was a fair 

 covering of native scrub plants over the greater part of the top of 

 the island. Old inhabitants report a considerable area of bastard 

 sandalwood (Myoporum sandwicense (A. DC.) A. Gray), the trees 

 being perhaps twenty feet high. Now only a few sticks of dead 

 wood and roots remain to prove the truth of these statements. At 

 that time a small patch of Maiiienie {Cynodon dactylon Pers.) was 

 being tended with considerable care in the yard of the Sinclairs. 

 Now this grass forms the main pasturage for the valuable flock of 

 sheep. The areas of Cypcrus lacvigatus which used to be tended 

 with some care are being crowded out by another species, as well 

 as by sheep, except where Mr. Robinson has protected it by fenc- 

 ing as of historical interest. A great many of the plants which 

 could have been collected by Day and Collie probably do not occur 

 on the island at the present time, while the number of naturalized 

 plants has probably increased in as great or greater proportion. 



Of the plants in the following list, 25 are peculiar to the 

 Hawaiian group ; 39 are indigenous to the group but also occur 

 elsewhere ; 10 may be considered of aboriginal introduction to the 

 group; 37 were introduced and naturalized prior to 1886, and 4 

 have become naturalized since 1886. 



Schiedea amplexicaulis and Euphorbia Stokesii are probably 

 peculiar to Niihau, but may be expected to occur on Kauai. Of 

 the naturalized plants many have probably arrived on Niihau 

 within comparatively recent years, as, for instance, Balis maritima, 

 which prior to 1886 was only known from a small area near Hono- 

 lulu, has now spread all over the group. 



As I have not had the privilege of visiting Niihau, I wish to 

 thank Dr. Brigham and Mr. Stokes for information concerning the 

 physical features and floral aspects of the island, and for help in 

 correcting the proof. 



FILICALES. 



Adiantum capillus veneris I.. 

 Ceropteris calomelanus ( L. ) lixl. 

 Dryopteris, s]>. 



Sterile fronds only ; probably D. truncata (Poir.) 0. K.1/. 



Nephrolepis exaltata I.. s< hott. 



[101] 



