22 The Botanical Gazette. [January, 
variety of mosses and liverworts. In these forests wild bana- 
nas are common, and most magnificent plants they are. 
Sheltered from the wind, the superb great leaves develop to 
their full size, without being torn in the least, and the whole — 
plant is a study of beautiful form and color. 
Coffee is being extensively planted in this region as well as 
upon the lee side of the island, and as the quality of the berry 
is exceptionally fine, this promises soon to be a leading in- 
dustry in the Islands. 
About Hilo especially, but common also elsewhere, was @ 
very conspicuous black fungus, that covered the leaves com- 
pletely in many cases, and attacked indiscriminately a great 
variety of trees. 
From Hilo I proceeded to the volcano of Kilauea, some 
thirty miles distant, and about 4,000 feet above the level of 
the sea. As this volcano has so often been the theme of | 
travellers’ descriptions I will not linger over it. In the vicin- 
ity are many interesting plants, among them a species of — 
Vaccinium with sub-acid yellow and red berries something — 
like cranberries. These ‘‘ohelo” berries are much esteemed, — 
I saw anywhere in the Islands. One of these standing 
alone, and with magnificent spread of» branches, must — 
fruit and Present a very showy appearance. Of flowers, the — 
species of Ipomcea were the most conspicuous; but the scarlet 
ycinetia were conspicuous at times, for 
r plant may often be seen running to the tops of - 
here this latte 
the tallest trees. 
The glory of this road, however, is the tree-ferns, which : 
all alon 
made out of the trunks of ferns! Such a road, if not very 
durable, is yet very pleasant to horses. As these trunks lay — 
damp atmosphere, most of them were | 
new fronds, and in due course of time, — 
nged with a hedge of great fern-leaves: 
the more open parts of the road farther 
already sending out 
the road will be fri 
Indeed, in some of 
a 
