1 



270 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



Dianella ? (No. 1). Fruit ovoid, superior. On mountain-ridges. 



(Hauielinia? No. 1); compare Astelia of authors. Veratrum-like; leaves ribbed, white 



beneath ; flower-stem lanate. On mountain-ridges. 

 Pandanus (bis No. 1 Paumotuan coral-islands and Metia). Growing near the sea-coast; 



but less abundant than on the coral-islands. Also seen on Aimeo. Young plants might 



be mistaken for an Eryngium. 

 Freycinetia (No. 1). An abundant shrub in the mountain-forest; sometimes sub-scandent. 



Also seen on Aimeo. 



Gahnia schoenoides, Forst. ? (No. 1) ; leaves an inch and a half broad. On mountain- 

 ridges ; rare. 



Scleria ? (No. 1). Having the habit of the preceding plant, and very large, three to 



five feet high; leaves three-fourths of an inch wide; flowers or florets numerous. 



Growing in large tufts on mountain-ridges; frequent. 

 Fimbristylis (No. 1). Having the habit of F. spadicea; long filiform leaves. In the 



moixntain-forest ; rare. 

 Gen. Scirpoid ? ; bis (No. 1) Manhii coral-island. West of Papeita, growing on islet within 



the coral reef. 



Cynodon (dactylon. No. 1 ; bis Brazil and Lower Peru). In maritime sands ; stem 

 creeping. 



after much cooking, becomes farinaceous and esculent. (Introduced by aboriginal 

 settlers); and we could not learn that any spirituous liquor had as yet been distilled 

 from it. 



Dioscorea (compare No. 1 Metia) ; leaves broadly cordate. Frequent in the woods. 

 (No. 2) ; a second species. Leaves sagittate or hastate, acuminate. — The yams 



brought on the table were of small size and excellent quality; but I did not ascertain 



the species. 



(■ pentaphylla, No. 3). A Convolvulus-like five-leaved vine; the flowers not seen. 



Growing also on Aimeo. 



Tacca (No. 1, bis Metia). Less frequent than on Metia; and not seen under cultivation, 



(Colocasia) macrorhiza, (No. 1; bis Metia and coral-islands); the "ape." Naturalized; 

 seen flowering in wild situations. 



( antiquorum, No. 2; bis Metia and coral-islands); the "taro." A favorite escu- 

 lent with the natives, but not very abundantly cultivated; naturalized in wild situations 

 in the Interior. 



Cocos nucifera, (bis Paumotuan coral-islands and Metia). In all instances, planted ; con- 

 tinuing abundant in the low valleys near the coast, and sometimes growing on the 

 nearest hills. Cocoa-nut oil manufactured by the natives, and scented with various 

 fragrant plants. 



Typha ; near T. latifolia. A bed growing in a drowned marsh, between Matavai and 

 Papeita; (but discordant, and probably introduced, either from Peru or perhaps New 

 Zealand). 



(Ananas, bis No. 1 Brazil) ; the pine apple. Introduced (by trading and colonial Whites) 

 since Cook's first visit; cultivated; also seen naturalized in the wildest and most 

 remote situations. 



Kyllingia (monocephala. No. 1) ; capitul. white. (Introduced by aboriginal settlers). 



