Euphorbiaceae. 



15 cm long. Male flowers: calyx ovoid in the bud petals white to cream colored, oblanceo- 

 late; stamens about 18, anthers erect, introrse. Female flowers: calyx 6 mm; ovary hairy, 

 2-celled; fruit fleshy, coriaceous, globose, about 5 cm or more in diameter, with 4 shallow 

 furrows; seeds 1 or 2, rugose-gibbous. 



The Kukui is one of the most common of Hawaiian forest trees, growing at 

 elevations of from about sea level to about 2200 feet. It reaches a height of 

 sometimes 80 feet and more, especially in narrow, rocky gorges, such as Mauna 

 Lei on Lanai, and other narrow valleys. The trunks reach large dimensions, and 

 it is not uncommon to find them several feet in diameter. Of all Hawaiian trees 

 the Kukui has the lightest colored foliage, it being covered with a silvery-gray 

 powder which makes it very conspicuous in the forest, and can be recognized 

 from far off. The trunks are not always erect, but sometimes are twisted and 

 running on the ground, as are also the huge branches. It is mainly in narrow 

 gorges that the tree has a perfectly straight trunk, branching 40 feet or so above 

 the ground. 



It inhabits the lower slopes of the mountains in the dry region as well as on 

 the windward side, where the rainfall is usually heavy. It is common on all 

 the islands from almost sea level up to 2200 feet, but not higher. 



The nuts especially were a necessity to the natives, who made their torches 

 from the seeds, strung on coconut or palm-leaf midribs. An oil was expressed 

 from the nuts, which they burnt in stone lamps. Of the acrid juice of the fleshy 

 covering of the nuts they prepared a black dye, used in tattooing. From the 

 bark of the root a similar dye was used in coloring canoes black. The trunk 

 itself was sometimes made into canoes, while the soot of the burning nuts was 

 used as canoe paint. The trunk, when bruised, exudes a gum or resin called 

 pilali by the natives, who employed it for various purposes. The gummy sub- 

 stance is said to be chewed by the Tahitians, especially that exuding from the 

 fruits. The nuts contain 50 per cent of oil, which is known as Eekuna in India 

 and Ceylon, and Kukui in Hawaii. In former times the yearly production of 

 the Kukui nut oil in the Hawaiian Islands amounted to 10,000 gallons, and was 

 exported to Europe. The cake, after expression of the oil, is a good food for 

 cattle, and also useful for manuring. Medicinally, the oil is used as a purgative, 

 and also makes an ideal dressing for ulcers. 



The nuts are also roasted by the Hawaiians and, when chopped, are mixed 

 with seaweed and served at luaus or native feasts as a relish. In Samoa the 

 nuts are strung similarly to the old Hawaiian method and used as house lamps, 

 50 to 60 nuts being necessary for one night. They are boiled before being 

 strung on the midribs of palm leaves. It is called lama and tuitui in Samoa, 

 nihtol by the Tami Islanders in New Guinea, and raguar in the Caroline Islands; 

 it is the lauci, sikeci and tuitui in the various dialects of Fiji. 



The wood of the Kukui is of a light color, soft and absolutely not durable. 

 It decays very easily when cut full of sap. Many insects bore into the wood, 

 but especial mention may be made of the big beetle Aegosoma, belonging to the 

 Longicorn family, which is also a great enemy of the Koa and other trees. 



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