I\Iyrtaceae. 



The genus Jambosa consists of about 120 species, which are distributed over 

 the Indo-Malayan, but especially Malagassic, regions; also over north-eastern 

 Australia and Polynesia. 



In the Hawaiian Islands the genus is represented by one cosmopolitan species. 



Jambosa malaccensis (Linn.) P.DX. 



Ohia ai, Mountain Apple. 



(Plate 125.) 



JAMBOSA MALACCENSIS (Linn.) P. DC. Prodr. III. (1828) 286;— Hook, et Am. Bot. 

 Beech. (1832) 83;— Endl. Flora Suds, in Ann. AVien. Mus. (1836) 181, n. 1466;— 

 Guillem. Zeph. Tait. (1836-1837) no. 298;— Panclier in Cuz. Tahiti, (1860) 232;— 

 Jardin Hist. Nat. Hes Marqu. (1858) 24; — Nadeaud Enum. Tah. PI. (1873) 488;— 

 Niedenzu in Engl, et Prantl Pflzfam. III. 7. (1893) 84;— Wildev Fruits Haw. Isl. 

 (1911) 20. pi. 8. — Eugenia malaccensis Linn. Spec. PI. ed. I. (1753) 470;— Forst. 

 Prodr. (1786) no. 220;— Gray Bot. V. S. E. E. (1854) 510;— Seem. Fl. Vit. (1866) 

 77; — Mann Proc. Am. Acad. VII. (1867) 166, et Fl. Haw. Isl. Proc. Ess Inst. 

 V. (1867) 245;— Mrs. Sinclair Ind. Flow. Haw. Isl. (1885) pi. 41;— Hbd. Fl. Haw. 

 Isl. (1888) 128;— Del Cast. 111. Fl. Ins. Mar. Pae. VL (1890) 169, et Fl. Polyn. 

 Franc. (1893) 67;— Heller in Minnes. Bot. Stud. Bull. IX. (1897) 862;— Brigham 

 Ka Hana Kapa Mem. B. P. Bish. Mus. III. (1911) 156, fig. 93. — Jambosa domestica 

 Eumph. Herb. Amb. I. (1741) 127. t. 37;— Blume Mus. Bot. (1849) 91. — J. pur- 

 purascens DC. 1. c. 



Leaves opposite, elliptical or obovate-oblong, 15 to 20 cm long, 5 to 7.5 em wide, 

 on petioles of 12 mm, suddenly acuminate, dark green and shining, not dotted, the sinuate 

 marginal nerve distant from the edge; cymes axillary, usually cauline, short, about 5 cm 

 long, their lowest branches 8 to 12 mm long and 3 flowered, the middle and terminal 

 branch racemose; pedicels short, gradually enlarging into the calyx; calyx turbinate, pro- 

 duced beyond the ovary, with 4 rounded lobes; petals obovate, red, reddish -purple or 

 white, 6 mm; the red or white stamens 18 mm long; fruit obovate; about 7.5 cm in dia- 

 meter, umbilicate at the top and crowned by the truncate scar of the calyx-lobes, deep 

 crimson, pale pinkish, or white; seed generally one. 



Occasionally a tree of 60 feet in height. It is the mountain apple of the 

 white man and the Ohia ai or edible Ohia of the native Hawaiian. So much has 

 been written about this cosmopolitan species that only a brief account of it 

 will be given in the following lines. 



The Ohia ai was undoubtedly brought to Hawaii by the natives long before 

 the arrival of the first white man, and was the only Hawaiian fruit before the 

 coming of the latter. It is widely distributed over the islands of the Pacific, 

 where it is known by various names. It favors the windward sides of the 

 islands in the valleys and gorges, where it forms almost pure stands, along 

 streambeds. It is restricted to the lowlands and never ascends into the 

 mountains. 



It flowers and fruits at various times of the year according to locality. In 

 one district the trees can be seen in flower while in another the trees are loaded 

 with the bright red watery apples. 



The Ohia ai played an important role in the legends of Hawaii and Polynesia 

 as a whole, and Avas regarded as sacred, and from its wood many idols were 

 carved. 



The white variety is known in Hawaii as Ohia ai hua keokeo, and in Fiji as 



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