Palmae. 



Here in Hawaii only 2 species of Pritchardia were formerly known to exist, 

 namel}': Pr. Oaudicliaudii and Pr. Martii. 0. Beccari, the world's authority 

 on Palms, described three species since the publication of Hillebrand's Flora, 

 based on the latter 's herbarium material. 



In the month of February, 1909, the writer discovered an interesting species, 

 with verj- small olive-shaped, black, shining fruits, which was named by Beccari 

 and published in Webbia Vol. III. 137 as Pr. minor. Since then the writer has 

 carried on extensive explorations on all the Islands of the group under the 

 auspices of the Board of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as under the College 

 of Hawaii, with the result of bringing to light new plants of many families, 

 among which the Palmae were represented by four new species, as follows, the 

 first discovered by G. P. Wilder: Pr. eriophora Becc, from Halemanu, Kauai; 

 Pr. arecina Becc, from Honomanu, Maui ; Pr. Rockiana Becc, from the Puna- 

 luu jMts., Oahu; and Pr. criostachia, from the slopes of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. 

 This brings the species of Hawaiian Pritchardia up to ten. As 0. Beccari re- 

 marks in a letter to the writer, he believes that other species, of Pritchardia yet 

 remain to be discovered in these Islands, to which the writer cannot but agree. 



The writer has held back the manuscript on the Palms, as he had hoped to 

 receive Beccari 's publication of the above-mentioned new species in Webbia 

 Vol. IV, as was promised by him. In fact, the writer cabled to Beccari in 

 Florence, Italy, for prompt despatch of the publication, but no answer has been 

 received. It is, however, hoped that the publication has been issued before this 

 book appears off the press. 



In order to have this book on the native trees as complete as possible, it was 

 thought advisable to include all the species of palms so far known to be 

 natives of Hawaii, and brief descriptions are given of the new ones by the 

 writer, giving 0. Beccari credit as the author of the new species. 



In regard to the usefulness of the Loidu palms, it may be stated that excel- 

 lent hats are made from the young fronds by the natives. This, however, has 

 caused much havoc ; the present generation, being more or less afflicted with the 

 hookworm, finds it easier to cut the palms down rather than climb them for 

 the single j'oung frond necessary for a hat. The Japanese have imitated the 

 natives, and consequently many beautiful trees are being destroyed. 



The genus Pritchardia, which consists of about 14 species, is represented in 

 Hawaii by 10 species. Of the remaining four, two belong to Fiji (Pr. pacifica, 

 also cultivated in Honolulu, and Pr. Thurstoiiii) and two to the Dangerous Ar- 

 chipelago, on the Island of Pomotn. 



Pritchardia Gaudichaudii H. Wendl. 



Louht. 



PRITCHARDIA GAUDICHAUDII H. Wendl. in Bonpl. X (1862) 199;— Seem. Fl. Vit. 

 (18G8) 274;— H. Mann in Journ. of Bot. VII. (1869) 177;— 0. Beccari in Ma- 

 lesia III. (1889) 295. tab. XXXVIIT. fig. 11-13.— P. Martii (non H. Wendl.) HiUebr. 

 Fl. Plaw. Isl. (1888) 450 (pro max. parte). — Livlstona (?) Gaudichaudii Martins 



100 



