100 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
The indigenous palms are confined to the single genus 
Pritchardia, and are allendemic. There are a number of Hawaiian 
species, perhaps a dozen. The exact botanical status of these has 
not as yet been fully determined. The species of Pritchardia 
occur mainly in the rain forests and along exposed humid summit 
ridges. They are scattered, are usually solitary or in small clumps, 
never form pure stands, and constitute a very minor element in 
the forest. From the standpoint of abundance or striking features, 
Fic. 4.—Xerophytic promontory, Ka-ena Point, a typical “dry ridge” formation; 
other similar ridges, separating arid valleys, seen to the right; in foreground a coral 
beach formation covering ancient lava beds; note stratification of lava flows in the 
faces of promontory, also extensive talus slopes. 
the native palms are as disappointing as the native orchids. They 
occasionally attain considerable height (40-50 ft.), but are cus- 
tomarily of short or even dwarf stature. Pritchardia is confined 
to the islands .of the Pacific. The Hawaiian species show close 
affinities with those of the South Seas. 
_ Many of the other monocotyledonous families are but meagerly 
— The * Orchidaceae, for ee that attain unrivaled : 
