INTRODUCED PLANTS OF POLYNESIA. 



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dies by the Havvaiians ; being substituted, for the seeds of the Ri- 

 cinus. The tree, grows less luxuriantly than at the central groups; 

 where it seems to be indigenous. 

 Piper methysticum, the kava pepper, was seen clandestinely cultivated. 

 At Taheiti, a native species of pepper, was said to be substituted 

 for making kava. 



Broussonetia, the paper mulberry, was seen cultivated. — At the cen- 

 tral groups, the bark of some indigenous woody Urticese, was found 

 to be used for making ' tapa,' or native cloth. 



Artocarpus incisa, the bread-fruit. — A second variety (or possibly spe- 

 cies, having the leaves more entire and producing seeds), occurs at 

 the Samoa and Feejee Islands; and at the latter group, numerous 

 secondary varieties, are distinguished. The Samoan mode of pre- 

 paring bread-fruit for storing in the ground, is said to differ from 

 the Taheitian. 



Zingiber zerumhet, growing, seemingly wild, on the lower portion of 

 the mountains : as also, at the Samoa and the Feejee Islands. 



Curcuma longa, the turmeric. The powdered root, said to have been 

 formerly used as an unguent; according to the custom which still 

 prevails at the central groups. — At the Feejee Islands, I met with 

 the living plant, in wild situations. 



Musa sapientum, the banana, abundantly cultivated as well as natu- 

 ralized, on the lower portion of the mountains. But extending to the 

 coast, in the central groups. — The Philippines being excepted, we 

 met with the greatest number of varieties of the banana, at Samoa; 

 and among them, one whose small fruit uniformly contained seeds. 



Dioscorea pentaphylla, the kidney-rooted yam, growing in wild situa- 

 tions; and the root, reported to be eaten in, times of scarcity. — D. 

 pentaphylla, was seen likewise at the central groups; and at the 

 Feejee Islands, it is called ' kawai,' and is sometimes cultivated. 



Dioscorea bulbifera, abundantly naturalized in neglected clearings: as 

 also, at the central groups. The root, was not considered edible. 



Tacca pitmatijida, abundantly naturalized ; as also, at the central 

 groups ; and at Samoa, it is, besides, regularly cultivated. The art 

 of preparing arrow-root from it, is aboriginal with the Polynesians 

 and Feejeeans. — The Tacca, was seen in a seemingly wild state, at 

 the Mangsi Islands; and again, at Zanzibar. 



Dracaena terminalis, the ' Ti' plant. The sweet-rooted variety, is the 

 only one known at the Hawaiian Islands; where, it is abundantly 

 naturalized on the inferior portion of the mountains. — At Taheiti, 



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