31 



animals, especially the goats and the hogs, became wild and 

 have multiplied in great numbers. Because of the grazing and 

 rooting in the forests by these wild animals, as well as by tame 

 herds, a great amount of damage has been done to the native 

 flora. Forested areas have been destroyed and many species of 

 plants have been greatly reduced in numbers and in some in- 

 stances exterminated. 



Within the past few years tracts of land, including important 

 water-shed areas, have been fenced and grazing in them is now 

 prohibited. Reforestation in these and in other regions where 

 grazing is restricted is aiding in promoting conditions favorable 

 for the reestablishment of the original flora. In the course of 

 time, large acreages of tillable land were placed under cultiva- 

 tion. Introduced weeds became more and more abundant. 

 Many native plants, unable to successfully compete with the 

 advance of cultivation and the more vigorous weedy species, 

 were compelled to retreat up the valleys and mountain slopes. 

 At the present time it is necessary to go a considerable distance 

 from the cultivated areas before a typical native flora may be 

 found. 



At one time a considerable amount of sandalwood grew in 

 the forests of the islands. This was in great demand in the Orient 

 where there was a ready market for it. Exportation of the wood 

 began in the latter part of the eighteenth century when its com- 

 mercial value became recognized. Replanting when the trees 

 were removed was not practiced and by 1850 practically every 

 tree of marketable size had been cut. This ruthless despoiling 

 of the forests of this formerly abundant species had no little 

 effect on the makeup of the associated flora. 



The native flora presents several interesting features. Sev- 

 eral of the larger plant families are conspicuous because of the 

 comparatively small number of species which are found. This is 

 especially true of some of the larger monocotyledonous families. 

 Only three native species of orchids are found for example, 

 which is in striking contrast to many other parts of the world 

 with similar growing conditions. There are no native Gymno- 

 sperms, and the palms are represented by the single genus Pr it- 

 char dia. On the other hand, some families exhibit an unusually 

 large number of species. The family Lobeliaceae, for example, is 

 represented by over a hundred species many of which are 



