Placourtiaceae. 



reddish, about 8 in racemes of 10 to 15 mm in length, often several racemes from one 

 gemma, the pedicels of about the same length, bracteolate below the middle; male flowers: 

 sepals 4, connected at the base, ovate, obtuse 3 mm, margins ciliate; stamens 2 or 3 times 

 as long, on a raised torus and surrounded by a crenulate disc; female flowers: sepals 5, 

 quincunial; ovary surrounded by a crenulate disc and a few rudimentary stamens; stigma 

 sessile, peltately 2 to 3 (or 4) lobed, the lobes reflexed; placentas 3 (-4) with 3 pendulous 

 ovules to each; berry reddish somewhat dry 8 to 12 mm long, ovoid; seeds 5 mm; embryo 

 straight in copious albumen, but shorter, the radicle shorter than the broad foliaceous 

 cotyledons. 



The Maua is a very handsome tree, conspicuous in the forest by its reddish 

 young leaves. It thrives best in the drier districts on the Islands of Oahu and 

 Kauai only. The Maua of Molokai, Hawaii, and Maui is botanically referred 

 to another species. 



In the forest of Kopiwai, a semi-dry district on the leeward side of Kauai, 

 it grows to a height of 30 feet, developing a more or less straight trunk of some- 

 times more than a foot in diameter, with a smooth bark. It is conspicuous on 

 account of its large ovate or rounded leaves, which are of a dark-green color 

 with reddish hue and shining. It is not uncommon at an altitude of 2000 feet, 

 and sometimes as high as 3000 feet, where it can usu.ally be found in company 

 with the Hame or Haa, Eopiko, Ahakea, and others. 



It is confined, like the Kalia, to the Islands of Oahu and Kauai. In the 

 former island it grows in nearly all the valleys of the leeward side, but has also 

 been observed in Punaluu, on the windward side of Oahu; at lower elevation it 

 usually is not taller than 20 feet, or sometimes even less. 



On Kauai it is found in the lower forest zone above Waimea, in the woods of 

 Kopiwai, where it is associated with the Alphitonia excelsa (Kauila), Dracae- 

 na aurea, the Halapepa, Santalum pryrularmm, Sandalwood, and others ; also at 

 Kaholuamano and probably in the woods above Koloa. It is not found outside 

 of the Hawaiian group, but has a relative in the Marquesas, Tonga and Viti 

 islands. 



There seem to be intermediate leaves between this species and the folloAving; 

 on Lanai occurs a tree with entire leaves, while others have a faint suggestion 

 of crenate leaves; evidently the two species are very little distinct specifically. 

 The following may only be a good variety of the former. 



Xylosma Hillebrandii Wawra. 

 Maua. 



(Plate 123.) 



XYLOSMA HILLEBEANDII Wawra in Flora (1873) 171;— Hbd. PI. Haw. Isl. (1888^ 20;— 

 Del Cast. 111. Fl. Ins.. Mar. Pac. VI. (1890) 109.— Myroxylon HlUebrandii (Wawra) 

 0. Ktze. Rev. Gen. PI. I. (1891) 44;— Warburg in Engl, et Prantl Pflzfam. III. a. 

 (1893") 41. 



Leaves on petioles of 12 mm, ovate-oblong, 6 to 10 cm long, 3 to 7 cm wide, somewhat 

 obtuse, or acute, contracted at the base or rounded, repaudly crenate, even sinuate, the 

 teeth tipped with a callous gland, membraneous, chartaceous or in very dry districts cori- 

 caeous, glabrous and shining, racemes pubcrulous, 12 to 25 mm long, with 10 to 12 flowers 

 on pedicels of 2 to 6 mm, which are bracteolate above the base and articulate: male 

 flowers: sepals 4, broadly ovate or triangulai', with a white pubescence on both faces, 



313 



