49 



ciated. Dead iiluhi is at first chocolate-brown, gradually bleach- 

 ing to a peculiar dull gray-brown. These colors are so distinctive 

 that a patch of living or dead iihihi may be easily recognized at a 

 distance of several hundred yards. 



A single uluhi thicket varies in depth from 2 to 8 ft., depending 

 upon topography, and in area from a few square feet to several 

 hundred square rods. The ticket comprises three strata or 

 layers. Uppermost is the closely interlaced canopy of living 

 leaves, beneath which is much dead material. This canopy is 

 strongly supported by innumerable slender petioles, which are 

 woody and elastic. The third stratum is the subterranean net- 

 work of rhizomes. 



The interlocking leaves and woody petioles render the uluhi 

 thicket exceedingly difficult of penetration by the mountaineer. 

 To break trail through this material is very arduous and fatiguing. 

 The experienced mountaineer will always walk around, rather 

 than attempt a way through. One is continually tripping over 

 the unyielding petioles, and wounding oneself upon the sharp 

 pseudo-spines. The ramifications of the older leaves often break 

 off close to their points of origin. This produces short, sharp 

 pseudo-spines, that are strong and rigid, and that often cause 

 painful wounds. Mountaineers who have not examined the 

 uluhi carefully are often under the impression that the plant is 

 actually thorny or spiny. The silicious cortex of the petioles is 

 so dense that the fragments wound like bamboo or glass. 



In the forests, and along wooded ridges, the uluhi often as- 

 sumes a climbing habit. The petioles and rachides become 

 greatly elongate, so that a single leaf may attain the length of 

 20 or more feet. The ramifications continue indefinitely. The 

 leaves clamber up over bushes and into the trees, but rarely rise 

 over a height of 15 ft. There are no special climbing structures — 

 the wiry petioles and rigid leaflets are well adapted to entangle 

 and mount upon other vegetation. This leaning or semi- 

 climbing habit is detrimental to the plants which are used for 

 support, and distinctly assists the uhihi in smothering other 

 vegetation and monopolizing new territory. 



Uluhi is notably free from insect pests and fungus diseases. 



