106 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
trees of Cassia, Poinciana, Peltophorum, Pithecolobium, and allied 
genera.”* 
A number of the indigenous legumes are beautiful, high- 
climbing woodland vines, with showy clusters of bright colored 
flowers; Syrongylodon lucidum, Vicia Mensziesii, Mucuna urens, 
Dioclea violacea, and Canavalia galeata are examples of these. 
Species of Crotalaria, Indigofera, Leucaena, Acacia, Mimosa, 
Dolichos, Medicago, Phaseolus, and Desmodium are common road- 
side weeds. The most valuable and widely known of our cabinet 
woods, koa, is from the common forest tree Acacia koa. 
Rubiaceae 
The Rubiaceae comprise a large and diversified portion of our 
flora. There are 13 genera, of which 4 (Kadua, Gouldia, Bobea, 
and Straussia) are endemic. There are between 50 and 60 rubia- 
ceous species; of these the majority are tall shrubs or arborescent. 
The other genera (Gardenia, Plectronia, Coffea, Morinda, Psychotria, 
Paederia, Nertera, Coprosma, and Richardsonia) occur in many 
other tropical regions. — 
Of special interest, because of their beautiful flowers, are the 
__ two endemic species of Gardenia. The blossoms are large, white, 
_ deliciously fragrant, and rank high among the wild flowers of 
Hawaii. The coffee (C. arabica) was introduced in 1823, and its 
cultivation spread rapidly to all of the larger islands of the group. 
Although a combination of economic and cultural factors has 
7 suppressed the coffee industry, the plant itself is thoroughly 
, and occurs in many of the humid lower regions. 
; Birds have eeeitedy snsted mi dis eminati ao 
ae "hated trees and shrubs comprise a. ‘conspicuous and abun- ae 
dant element in the native forests. Th oS 
