VII THE HAWAIIAN STRAND-FLORA 53 



Hawaiians, when their ancestors abode in the South Pacific, must 

 have been well acquainted with one or other of the prevailing 

 names of Terminalia Katappa (Talie, Tara, &c.) ; but it had 

 lapsed in the memory of the race when the Europeans introduced 

 the tree into Hawaii. 



It may be added in this connection that Dr. Hillebrand 

 weakens his argument by regarding Pandanus odoratissimus as 

 of pre-aboriginal origin or as truly indigenous. Like the other six 

 trees in question, its fruits are known to be capable of dispersal 

 far and wide by the currents ; and if this species of Pandanus is 

 indigenous, we are obliged to assume that its fruits were first 

 brought by the currents. That being so, we cannot exclude the 

 probability of the currents having been also effective with several 

 of the other plants regarded by Hillebrand as of aboriginal 

 introduction, more especially those with large fruits like 

 Calophyllum Inophyllum, and Cordia subcordata, where the 

 alternative agency of frugivorous birds would be impracticable, at 

 least over a wide extent of ocean. Pandanus odoratissimus is, 

 as I venture to think, a tree that was introduced ages since by 

 the aborigines. Next to the Coco palm, few trees have been 

 more utilised by island-peoples, more particularly perhaps in the 

 ruder stages of their history. 



This point has been discussed at some length, because on the 

 correctness of Dr. Hillebrand's view depends the explanation to 

 be subsequently given of the origin of the shore-flora of Hawaii. 

 Though differing in some details, my observations on the 

 Hawaiian coast plants, which are given in Note 29, tend to 

 strengthen his contention. 



I now return to the consideration of some of the negative 

 features of the Hawaiian strand-flora, and will allude first to the 

 absence of the mangroves and of the numerous other plants that 

 live in and around a mangrove-swamp. This cannot be connected 

 with a total absence of suitable stations. Although it is true that 

 there are but few large rivers and but few suitable localities, yet 

 such localities exist. The shores of Hilo Bay might readily have 

 been the home of a mangrove-swamp ; and one can point to 

 different places on the coast of Oahu, such, for instance, as Pearl 

 Harbour, which in Fiji would have been occupied by a luxuriant 

 growth of mangroves. The same argument applies to the 

 missing beach trees, such as Barringtonia speciosa, Hernandia 

 peltata, Guettarda speciosa, &c., that adorn the beaches of many a 

 coral island or of many a coral-bound coast in the South Pacific. 



