STEAND VEGETATION, 



As already remarked, the strand vegetation of these islands is extremely poor 

 in comparison with the luxurious strand floras of the islands of the South Seas 

 and other countries bordering on the Pacific. Of trees, the most common are 

 the Hisbiscus tiliaceus (Hau) and Pandanus odoratissimus (Puhala). (See 

 plate I.). While the former may be seen in scattered clumps along the shore, 

 the latter forms dense forests on the windward sides of the islands of Hawaii 

 and Maui, covering the precipitous walls down to the water's edge. They are 

 usually associated with the Jamhosa malaccensis (Ohia ai), which, however, 

 does not grow on the steep slopes, but at the bottom of narrow ravines, which 

 the mountain streams have cut into the precipitous cliffs. They are also asso- 

 ciated with the Aleurites moluccana (Kukui). 



It is in such places as Pololu, Honokaneiki, Honokanenui, Waimanu, etc.. 

 on the windward side of Hawaii, and Makaiwa, and other valleys on the wind- 

 ward side of Maui, where conditions are still undisturbed, that one can see 

 strand vegetation that would somewhat remind him of the strand floras of the 

 South Seas. But in the true sense of the word it is not a typical beach flora, 

 but belongs to the lowland zone, which in certain localities, as mentioned above, 

 reaches the water's edge. (See plate II.) 



On sandy beaches the cosmopolitan Ipomoea pes caprae (Pohuehue) is nearly 

 always found, with its long runners reaching almost into the sea. Cuscuta 

 Sandwichiana (Dodder or Pololo) may often be seen growing on Ipomoea pes 

 caprae as well as on Ipomoea tuberculata. Among other Convolvulaceae pecu- 

 liar to the shores is Ipomoea acetosae folia (Hunakai), which is found on the 

 island of Niihau only. Jacquemontia Sandwicensis occurs farther inland, as 

 well as on sandy shores, together with the nyctaginaceous Boerhaavia diffusa 

 (Nena). Of the Caryophyllaceae, only two endemic species, Schiedea Bemyi 

 and Schiedea Lydgatei, are found on the shores, and those on the island of 

 Molokai only, under the precipitous cliffs on the windward side. Of Legumi- 

 nosae, the rare Seshania tomentosa (Ohai), Vigna lutea and Canavalia sp? are 

 to be found, the two latter especially common near Waialua, Oahu, and also on 

 Molokai, together with the boraginaceous Heliotropium Curassavicum and H. 

 anomalum (Hinahina). Of Campanulaceae, the very interesting and queer 

 looking Brighamia insignis of the tribe Lobelioideae is found on the islands of 

 Niihau, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai, though only on the windward sides, growing 

 on the precipitous cliffs down to a few feet from the waves, where they are 

 within reach of the tremendous spray of the sea. On the latter island it is found 

 at the head of Mauna Lei gorge on the precipitous cliffs. 



One of the most common sea-shore plants is the cosmopolitan Scaevola 

 frtitescens, which is usually in company with Vitex trifolia. 



Of trees, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Kamani) forms usually large groves on 

 the windward sides of most of the islands; but especial mention may be made 



