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SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



\'()L. 



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pods constricted between the seeds. In the arid regions is found the 

 wiliwih ( Erythrina uionospcrma) , a deciduous tree with gnarly 

 growth, a very soft hght wood, and bright scarlet seeds. Among 

 the peculiar plants of the islands is the silversword (Argyroxiphiitiii 

 sandwicensc), a strikingly beautiful composite with glistening silvery 

 leaves, which grows only on the slopes of cinder cones in the crater 



Fig. 70. — Palms at Hilo. Two royal palms with a slender 

 betel palm between. 



of Haleakala and in a few very limited localities on Hawaii. The 

 family Lobeliaceae is represented by about 100 species belonging 

 to 6 genera. The numerous arborescent species are very peculiar 

 and characteristic. Many of them form slender trunks like small 

 palms, crowned with a large cluster of long narrow leaves. The 

 trunks of some species are as much as 30 or 40 feet high and the 

 large bright colored flowers are sometimes remarkably beautiful. 



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