Leguminosae. 



The Koaia inhabits the very dry districts on the leeward sides of the Islands 

 of Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii. On Molokai, it grows at Kalae as well as on the 

 edge of the dry canyon below Kamoku, in company with Naio (Myoporum sand- 

 wicense), Walahee (Plectronia odorata), Aiea (Nothoeestrum), Dodonaea, etc. 

 On Maui it can be found on the Kula slopes of Haleakala at an elevation of 

 2000 feet or more, together with the Halapepe, while on Hawaii it grows on the 

 lava fields of North Kona, especially on the slopes of the ridge between Puua- 

 nahulu and Puuwaawaa, associated with Reynoldsia, Maba, Osteomeles (Ulei), 

 etc., as well as on the lava fields of Kawaihae iuka, along the road together with 

 the Maua, Naio, Mamani, and Kuliii. 



Koaia wood, which is much harder than the Koa and closer grained, was used 

 by the natives for spears and fancy paddles. It is endemic to the islands, and 

 was first discovered by Dr. W. Hillebrand, and described by him in his valuable 

 work on the Flora of the Hawaiian Islands. 



He also describes a species of Acacia from Kauai, specimens of which were 

 sent to him by Valdemar Knudsen of Kekaha, Kauai. He gave it the name 

 Acacia Kauaiensis, but does not say whether it is a tree or shrub. As the writer 

 did not meet with any trees that would answer the description given by Hille- 

 brand, it is here omitted and simply mention made of it. 



The Koaia flowers during the early part of the summer or late spring, but 



flowers and fruits usually can be observed on the same tree during July and 



August. 



MEZONEURUM Desf. 



Calyx short oblique, the lowest lobe larger than the four remaining; concave; petals 

 5 nearly all equal; stamens 10, free decliuate, ovary sessile free, with 2 to many seeds; 

 legume flat compressed, indehiscent, with a dorsal wing; seeds flat, compressed exalbumin- 

 ous. Trees or climbing shrubs. Leaves bipinnate. Flowers red or yellow. 



A genus of eleven species found in the tropics of the old world, distributed 

 from India to Malay archipelago, Queensland, and New South "Wales, with one 

 species in tropical West Africa, and one in the Hawaiian Islands. 



Mezoneurum Kauaiense (Mann) Hbd. 



Vhiuhi; Kea on Maui. 



(Plates 69, 70, 71.) 



(The native name "Kalamona" is not applied to this plant, as stated by Hillebrand, but 



to an introduced species of Cassia.) 

 MEZONEURUM KAUAIENSH (Mann) Hbd. PI. Haw. Isl. (1888) 110;— Del Cast. 111. PI. 



Ins Mar. Pacif. VII. (1890) 157. — Caesalpinia Kavaiensis Mann Proc. Am. Acad. 



VII. (1866) 164, and PI. Haw. Isl. (1867), 233;— Brigham Mem. B. P. B. Mus. III. 



(1911) 178. 



Branches loose spreading, unarmed, the young shoots covered with a hoary pubescence; 

 leaves abruptly pinnate with 1 to 5 pairs of pinnae, each pinnae with 4 to 8 pairs of leaf- 

 lets, the common rhachis 7.5 to 12.5 cm, the pinnae 3.5 to 7.5 cm; leaflets oblong, 25 to 30 

 mm X 12.5 mm. obtuse at both ends membraneous, on petioles of 2 mm; stipules none or 

 small wart-like; raceme terminal, hoary 25 to 75 mm long densely floriferous from the 

 base; the pedicels 25 to 50 mm, jointed above the middle; bracts ciliate, caducous; 

 calyx glabrous pinkish or red; petals pinkish purple or red, shorter than the calycine 



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