Saxifrauaceae. 



This is one of tlie most eoniinou trees or shrulis wliieli the traveler will meet in 

 the Hawaiian rain forests. It occurs in all the islands of the group at elevations 

 of lOOO to 3000 feet. It is conspicuous by its dark green shiny leaves, and when 

 in fruit it is not at all unattractive. The native name of tliis, as well as of the 

 other species, is Piialiaiiui and Kanawau. It is never found in the dry districts, 

 hut is confined to the rain forests, where precipitation is heavy. It is easily dis- 

 tinguished from the other species by its small corynd) and opposite leaves, which 

 are not transparent. 



Broussaisia pellucida Gaud. 

 I'uaJianui. 

 (Plate 54.) 



BROUSSAISIA PELLUCIDA Gaii.t. Bot. Vov. Bon. (lS44-.-)2) pi. 9. (exclus. fig. 11 & 12);— 

 Ilbd. Fl. Haw. Isl. (isss) 121; — Del Cast. til. Fl. Ins. VI (1890) 1G3;— Engl, in 

 Engl, vt Prantl I'flzfani. HI. 2. a. (1891) 77. 



Leaves wliorleil, ternate, narrower, 4 to (i em in wiilth; corymb larger and more 

 open; male flowers: ealyx about 2 mm; petals 4 mm, reililish; female flowers: ealycinc 

 lol)es short dentiform, not longer tliau tlie petaloid stales; ovary aduate cnly in tlie lower 

 half; berry smaller, the stigma sessile on the free eonieal apex. 



This species is certainly (piite distinct from .5. arguia, Imt is not confined to 

 Puna, Hawaii, as it occurs on all tlie islands of the group, but at higher elevations 

 than B. (injnUi. This latter species practically goes not higher than 3000 to 3500 

 feet, while the other si)ecies talces its i)lace up to 5000 and nearly 6000 feet eleva- 

 tion. It differs from />'. art/iila in the larger female cor.ymb, which is more open 

 and almost as long as liroad, while tlie male corymb is smaller and denser. A 

 characteristic is the ternate leaves, Avhich are not as 1)road as in B. airjuta, and 

 are perfecth' pellucid, a characteristic not found in B. argula, whose leaves are 

 opaque. All these characteristics are constant; Gaudichaud's plate in Bot. Voy. 

 Bonit(! is most excellent and sliows at a glance the specific distinction from B. 

 argula. (Excluding figures 11 and 12.) 



The figs. 11 and 12 in Gaudichaud's plate certainly do not represent B. pellu- 

 cida as the stigmas in all specimens examined are sessile and not raised on a 

 colunuiar style as is the case in B. argnia. As no text was published with the 

 plate, they perhaps \vere intrf)duced for comparison. 



The native names for this and the previous species are Pualianui and Kanawau. 

 It occurs on all the islands of the group, and is not confined to Puna, Hawaii, as 

 given l)y Hillebrand. The writer collected it on the high plateau of Kauai and at 

 tlie sunnuit of Waialeale, on the same island : on Halealvala, i\laui, it is not uncom- 

 mon in the rain forests at an elevation of 4000 to 6000 feet. It is found on all 

 the mountains of IIa\\'aii, ]\Iauna Loa, Kau, Hualalai, South and North Kona, Ha- 

 makua, and on the summit f)f the Kohala jMountains. The red berries are much 

 sought for by the native birds. 



It is a small tree, but often a shrub with stout and soft branches which are 

 hirsute at tlieir ends. 



152 



