64 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



\'0L. 66 



succulent joints in spite of the thorns. Two introduced slirubs now 

 occupy extensive areas and have become great pests. These are 

 guava (Psidiiiin i:;tiajava), whose fruit furnishes the'dehcious guava 

 jelly, and lantana ( Lautaiia caiiiara ) , with clusters of handsome parti- 

 colored flowers. In the moister portions of the islands large areas 

 have been occupied by Hilo grass {Paspaliiin conjugatum) which 

 has little value as a forage plant. The kukui or candlenut tree 

 (Alcuritcs iiioliicciiiia) with its light, almost silvery, green foliage 

 is now a common and rather striking element in the valleys and 

 poroes. 



Fk;. 67. — A forest of algaroba trees (Prosopis juliffora). The pods are 

 much rehshed by stock and are an important cattle food. I-'rom the flowers are 

 produced an excellent quality of honey which is an important article of export. 



The indigenous Hora is highly interesting- though not abundant in 

 species. Two of the commonest trees are the ohia {Metrosidcros 

 pulyiiiorpha) and the koa (Acacia koa). The former, also called 

 ohia lehua and lehua, reseml)les, in the appearance of the trunk, our 

 white oak, but bears beautiful clusters of scarlet flowers with long- 

 protruding stamens. The koa produces a valuable wood much used 

 in cabinet making, now becoming familiar through its use for making- 

 ukuleles. Characteristic of the up])er forest belt on the high moun- 

 tains of Hawaii is the mamani (Sophora clirysopliylla) , a leguminous 

 tree with drooping" racemes of yellow flowers and long 4-winged 



