PENRHYN ISLAND. 283 



Hibiscus tiliaceus, " haw," also serves many purposes, among which 

 is the manufacture of ropes : its wood being light and tough, is used 

 for out-riggers, and for sticks to carry burdens on. 



Acacia, which is used in a variety of ways. 



The black mustard has become naturalized. 



Turmeric (Curcuma) is also found, I understood, in considerable 

 quantities on Maui, of which some has been procured for sale, and 

 was pronounced to be of excellent quality. 



Indigo is found growing wild, particularly in Hawaii. Almost all 

 kinds of foreign fruits and vegetables have been introduced, and with 

 but few exceptions, succeed well : this is also the case with many 

 ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants. 



It was observed by our botanists, that the character of the flora of 

 the Hawaiian Islands is similar, in many respects, to both the Indian 

 and Polynesian, yet in some particulars it bears a strong contrast to 

 the southern Polynesian islands. This difference consists in the absence 

 of all species of Ficus: the small varieties of trees are also absent, 

 although there are some extensive forests. Orchideous plants are 

 extremely rare, and the epiphytic species wanting altogether, while 

 the Composite are much more abundant than in the more southern 

 islands. 



In the ferns, however, the difference is most obvious, and consists in 

 the predominance here of different genera and tribes. 



The absence of American plants was also observed here: they did 

 not appear to be much more numerous than at the southern islands, 

 notwithstanding what has been generally reported. 



The most remarkable feature of the flora is the woody Lobeliaceae ; 

 these are in great variety, and constitute several distinct genera. 



It is believed there are more than fifty genera of different families 

 peculiar to these islands ; and with regard to species, it is thought all 

 that are unequivocally indigenous, will be found strictly confined to 

 this portion of the globe. 



The botanical regions may be divided into that of the sea-coast, the 

 wooded district below the altitude of six thousand feet, and a third 

 division at a still higher level. Alpine plants do not occur here. For 

 further remarks on the interesting botany of this group, I must refer to 

 the Botanical Report of the cruise. 



Having spoken so much of the climate of the different districts, it 

 will only be necessary here to take a general view of that of the whole 

 Hawaiian Group. The monthly mean temperature ranges between 

 70° and 78°. This remark applies to the coast almost exclusively ; 

 for, as would naturally be expected, on higher elevations the thermo- 



