1920] 



MacCAUGHEY— tapestry forests 



147 



f 





Landslides are perpetual enemies of the hanging groves. They 

 cut short the lives of the trees which they undermine, and expose 

 fresh rock surfaces to soil-making and re vegetation. The land- 

 slides vary in width from 6 to 60 ft., and in length from 25 to 1000 ft. 

 Owing to the slow rate of reproduction in the rain forest species, 

 and the inhospitable climatic and soil conditions for seedlings, 

 these rents in the tapestry are slow healing. Commonly various 

 grasses and such ferns as Dicranopteris and Sadleria are the first 

 invaders, followed by herbaceous-perennial seed plants (Dianella, 

 Coreopsis) and shrubs. The arborescent species come last, and 

 very slowly. 



The two great activities of subsidence and erosion are gradually 

 but inexorably reducing the areas occupied by the tapestry groves. 

 The base-leveling action of erosion tends to flatten all slopes. 

 The immeasurably slow subsidence of the entire archipelago has 

 shrunk the original heights of the mountains. Thus, from the 

 historical viewpoint, tapestry groves represent a transient ecologi- 

 cal phenomena. At present it is possible to find every stage, 

 from steep walls covered with luxuriant endemic woody tapestry, 

 to flattened earthy hills, clad only with foreign grasses, and ranged 



by cattle. 



The tapestry groves are of large economic value as earth pro- 

 tectors and water conservators. Their scenic beauty alone would 

 amply warrant their stringent protection. As water sheds they 

 are of much local significance. They comprise one of Hawaii's 

 most distinctive and lovely natural assets. 



Honolulu, Hawaii 



