Malvaceae. 



Kokia Rockii Lewton. 



Kokio. 



(Plates 120, 121.) 



KOKIA ROCKII Lewt. in Smithson. Misc. Coll. LX. 5. (1912) 3, pi. 1, 2, 3, 4;— Book in 

 Report. Haw. Bd. Agric. & For. (1912) pi. 19-20;— Gossypiiuii drynarioides Rock 

 in Kep. Haw. Bd. Agr. & For. (1910) 71. pi. 13. 



Bracts broadly obovate 6.5 cm long 6.5 to 8 em broad, with three to five blunt and 

 shallow lobes, very strongly reticulated and veined below. Leaves glabrous below except 

 for a dense patch of rusty hairs 2 to 2.5 em in diameter at point of attachment of the 

 petiole, the pulvinus of which is also hairy; staminal tube 9 to 10 cm long curved; seeds 

 2 cm long by 1 em wide; lint 3 mm long. 



The Kokio or native red cotton (not to be mistaken for the Kokio ula or Pua- 

 loalo, red native Hibiscus) is an exceedingly rare tree of 12 to 13 feet in height, 

 with a trunk up to one foot in diameter and vested in a thin grayish-brown 

 bark, which is covered with lenticels. The trunks of the Hawaii plants are 

 straight and not gnarled. It is sparingly branching and woody in its last rami- 

 fication. The leaves resemble those of a young Kukui tree, though they have the 

 color of a maple leaf with the autumn tints from reddish-yellow to green. 



The tree is of striking beauty when in flower and is worthy of cultivation. 



The writer observed a young tree in Kona, Hawaii, which was literally loaded 

 with the bright red blossoms which excel in beauty many a Hibiscus flower. On 

 the Island of Hawaii the writer discovered several trees of this species, some of 

 which were in excellent condition. It inhabits the dry region of North Kona 

 and is scattered all along the Government Road between Huehue and Puuwaa- 

 waa, elevation 2000 feet. There it is associated with the Lama {Maba sand- 

 wicensis), Kauila (Colubrina oppositifolia) , Halapepe {Dracaena aurea), etc. 



The bark, Avhich contains a rich reddish-brown juice, is used by the natives, 

 who dye their fish nets with it. They strip the tree for several feet of its bark, 

 which is macerated, and the juice thus obtained is used as a dye. The wood is 

 soft and of a reddish-brown color. 



This particular Kokio is endemic and peculiar to the Island of Hawaii, where 

 it is still in its prime and, if properly protected from cattle and man, should not 

 become extinct. 



The writer is glad to relate that the owners as well as the lessee of the land on 

 which these few trees are growing, have already fenced these trees, so as to 

 protect them from the ravages of cattle. A regulation has also been posted to 

 prevent the natives from stripping the trees of their bark, and thus the writer 

 hopes that this interesting species may live many more years. Abundant seed 

 has been collected and forwarded to the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 

 Washington, D. C. A quantity of seed has also been distributed here in Hono- 

 lulu, and people interested in showy flowers have been urged to plant them 

 Quite a number are now growing in Honolulu. 



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