AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



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times branching; flowers in subterminal Sparganium-like capit. ; capsule smooth, 

 shining, three grooves. " Ovolau, at the elevation of two thousand feet," Rich. 



Gen. Orchid, with subsessile flowers, (No. 1). Leaves distinct, in pairs, bulb at base ; 

 flowers almost sessile, large, pale-yellowish, with a sack or obtuse spur at base. On the 

 mountain-summit behind Muthuata, at the elevation of 2000 feet. 



Gen. Orchid, (with ribbed leaves); bis (No. 1) Samoa. Epidendric ; terminal inflores- 

 cence. " Ovolau," Brackenridge. 



? (No. 2) ; congeneric?. Epidendric in tufts ; stems two inches; leaves linear, 



fleshy, an inch long; capsule small. On the mountain-summit behind Muthuata, at 

 the elevation of 2000 feet. 



Gen. Dendrobioid with cylindrical leaves, (No. 2) ; compare (No. 1) Taheiti. " Savu- 

 savu," Brackenridge. 



Gen. Dendrobioid with concealed flowers, (No. 2) ; a congener of Samoan and New Zeal- 

 and sp. Minute, creeping, appressed ; leaves elliptical. " Ovolau," Brackenridge. 



Gen. Steloid, (No. 3). Leaves linear ; flower-stems axillary ; long racemes of very small 

 flowers. " On mountain-summits on Ovolau, at the elevation of 2000 feet," Brack- 

 enridge. 



Gen. (Oberonioid, No. 1). Epidendric; a long terminal spike; stem one to two feet long, 

 straight, rigid, somewhat compressed or ancipital, the flowers on two opposite sides ; 

 capsule small. On the mountain-summit behind Muthuata, at the elevation of two 

 thousand feet. 



Gen. Maxillarioid, (No. 8); compare Maxillaria. Root creeping; leaves lanceolate, a 

 sulcate bulb at base ; delicate purple flower on a separate slender stem ; petals linear ; 

 capsule rather large. On the mountain-summit behind Muthuata. 



(No. 4). Epidendric ; creeping ; leaves lanceolate-linear, a long sulcate bulb at 



alata, (bis No. 4 Samoa to Tongatabu). Abundantly cultivated; constituting the 



principal food of the natives. Houses for storing yams, distinguished by being built on 

 posts, were to be seen in every village. 



? nov. sp., (No. 6). Leaves opposite, hastate, smooth, with about nine nervures. 



Planted ; and also seen growing in the forest. 



aculeata ? (No. 7). Leaves reniform, ten-nerved ; stem with hooked prickles ; 



root smaller than in I), alata, the skin peeling in rings like birch bark. Cultivated 

 by the natives, rather abundantly ; and generally preferred on shipboard. According 

 to one account, the true "kawai." 



Tacca pinnatifida, (No. 1, bis Metia to Tongatabu). The leaves more divided than 

 usual, having linear segments. Naturalized; growing often in wild situations. Arrow- 

 root is manufactured from this plant by the natives, and seemed to be regarded by 

 them rather as a luxury. 



Dracaena terminalis, (No. 1, bis Metia to Tongatabu). Leaves mucronate, the petiole 

 alate. Growing near dwellings, and also in wild situations ; but the natives did not 

 appear to make any use of either roots or leaves. A large-leaved variety also met 

 with, which might in the distance be almost mistaken for the banana plant. 



Ananas (bis Taheiti to Samoa, and No. 1 Tropical America); the pine-apple. Levuka on 

 Ovolau; introduced by trading and colonial Whites. 



Commelina (No. 1, compare Samoa). Small blue flowers. Growing at Mba. 



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