Araliaceae. 



var. a- — Leaflets 5 to 3, ovate oblong, deeply orenate or serrate; panicles short, 



styles 3, rarely 2 to 4. (E. Maui and Hawaii.) 

 var. yj. — Leaflets generally 3, rarely 5, ovate to suborbicular, remotely dentate, 



on a long common petiole, panicle large; stigmas 3 or 2. (W. Maui, Molo- 



kai, Hawaii.) 

 var. y. — Leaflets 3, entire, the common petiole rather long; panicle large, open, 



panicle drawn out, stigmas 3 to 2. (Koolau Bange, Oahu.) 

 var. (J.— Leaflets 3, rarely 5, remotely and faintly dentate, on rather short petioles, 



styles 3, 4 or 5. (Oahu, Koolau range; Mt. Kaala, and Niihau.) 

 var. £. — Leaflets subentire, small, membraneous, styles 2 to 5. (Woods of Kauai.) 



The Olapa is most common on East Maui, in the middle forest zone on the 

 slopes of Haleakala at an elevation of 4000 feet, and it is here that it attains its 

 best development. As mentioned before, it is common on all the islands of the 

 group at elevations from 2000 to 4000 feet. 



The performers of the native hula, or dance, were divided into two groups, 

 the Olapa and the Hoopaa. The former, who undoubtedly derive their name 

 from the Olapa tree, were those whose part in the dance was the agile one, who 

 could best illustrate, by the graceful bending of their bodies, the motion of the 

 leaves of the Olapa trees. From the leaves and bark the natives extracted a 

 bluish dye, which they employed in dyeing their tapa, or paper cloth. 



Cheirodendron platyphyllum (Hook, et Am.) Seem. 

 Lapalapa. 

 (Plate 148.) 



CHEIRODENDRON PLATYPHYLLUM (Hook, et Arn.) Seem. Journ. Bot. V. (1867) 

 236;— Hbd. Fl. Haw. Isl. (1888) 149;— Heller PI. Haw. Isl. (1897) 869;— 

 Harms in Engl, et Prantl Pflzfam. Ill, 8 (1898) 48.— Panax? platyphyllum Hook, 

 et Arn. Bot. Beechey (1832) 84;— Endl. El. Suds. (1836) no. 1342;— Del Cast. 111. 

 Fl. Ins. Mar. Pacif. VI (1890) 182.— Hedera platyphylla A. Gray Bot. U. S. E. E. 

 (1854) 720, t. 91; — Mann Proc. Am. Acad. VII (1867) 168;— Wawra in Flora 

 (1873) 157. 

 Leaflets 3, ovate, broader than long, 4 to 8 cm x 5 to 7.5 cm, mucronate or suddenly 

 and shortly acuminate, truncate at the base, or sometimes cuneate, entire or shortly den- 

 tate or almost sinuate-dentate (Waialeale, Kauai, plants), with thickened margin, coriace- 

 ous and shining, on long spreading petioles about 4 cm, the common petioles 6 to 8 em 

 long; panicles single, or three together, very open, 10 to 15 cm long, pedunculate; um- 

 bellets 4 to 7 flowered, the pedicles 2 to 6 mm; flowers 6 mm; stigmas 5, rarely 4, in- 

 curved or truncate, triangular on a very short and thick stylopod; drupe subglobose, 

 6 to 7 mm in diameter, 5 to 4 angled when dry. 



The Lapalapa, somewhat smaller than the Olapa, is a very handsome tree, 

 though by far not as common as the latter, as it is only found on the high 

 plateau of Kauai up to the summit of Waialeale, and on the Koolau mountain 

 range of Oahu. It is easily distinguished from the Olapa by its leaves, which 

 are much broader than long and are on long, spreading petioles with only three 

 leaflets. What has been said of the Olapa in regard to the constant motion of 

 its leaves applies also to the Lapalapa. 



It is confined to the Islands of Kauai and Oahu and inhabits the very wet 

 or rain forests at an elevation of 4000 feet up to 5000 feet; it hardly descends 

 lower than 3000 feet. It thrives best in swampy ground, and is a eonunon fea- 



363 



