426 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



berries. At the elevation of 2000 feet on the mountains behind Honolulu ; on Mauna 

 Haleakala, as far as the elevation of 6700 feet ; and along the new lava-stream on Hawaii. 



Draccena nov. sp., (No. 2). Differing from other species in habit, being a stemless tree, 

 ■with numerous upright branches ten to fifteen feet high ; leaves lanceolate, ten inches 

 long, no midrib ; fruit red, and much larger than in the other species, consisting of three 

 one-celled berries, each containing a round corneous seed as large as a pea. On the 

 South flank of Mauna Kaala. 



(Hamelinia) Menziesiana, (No. 3); Astelia of authors; the upper surface of the leaves 

 woolly. Growing on the ground more frequently than in the tree-tops ; and abound- 

 ing on Hawaii, and on the mountains behind Honolulu, and elsewhere. 



; perhaps distinct ; the upper surface of the leaves smooth. In the mountain- 

 defile across West Maui. — Another variety, or possibly species, with the leaves very long 

 and narrow, was found by Mr. Couthouy. 



Nov. gen. Palmac, (No. 1). " Twenty-five feet high, with the trunk fourteen inches in 

 diameter, and tapering to below the fronds ;" the fronds pubescent, flabellate, retaining 

 their elasticity when dry, so that they can be unfolded and used as a substitute for 

 umbrellas ; flowers in racemes, which are like those of the date-palm ; calyx-scales very 

 small ; nuts of the size of a small apple, the shell thin and adhering to the rind, the 

 cicatrix of the seed directly over the receptacle ; kernel large and not adherent, being 

 hard, solid, and almost horny. Growing only in one locality; which is " in the midst of 

 the forest at the elevation of about 3500 feet, and six miles back of the Hilo saw- 

 mill," Brackenridge. 



Freycinetia (No. 7) ; near (No. 1) Taheiti. Decumbent in great profusion, forming 

 thickets within the forest, on the mountains behind Honolulu and elsewhere. 



(No. 8) ; the floral or rather involucral leaves orange-colored. Abounding in the 



Lower portion of the forest on Mauna Kea, climbing to the tree-tops. 



(No. 9) ; perhaps distinct ; larger than the Oahu species, and devoid of colored 



involucral leaves. Stem branching; the leaves tapering gradually to a long point, and 

 not suddenly contracted. In the Lower portion of the forest on Mauna Kea. 



Nov. gen. Asparag. ?, (No. 2). Olyroid ; six to eight feet high; leaves ribbed, three to 

 four inches wide, the petiole sheathing as in grasses, and with vestiges of stipels; a 

 large panicle ; calyx 6-fid, coriaceous ; berry containing three round seeds. On the 

 mountains behind Honolulu, at the elevation of 1500 feet. 



Scleria ? (No. 8) ; near (No. 1) Taheiti. Large ; leaves long, convolute in drying ; con- 



the roots, cooked and made into a fermented sour paste called " poi," constitute the 



principal food of the natives. 

 Scirpus lacustris ?, (No. 1) ; inflorescence subterminal. Abundant ; filling the wet ground, 



on Oahu and elsewhere ; possibly indigenous. 

 maritimus, (No. 2, bis United States). In the artificial saline marshy ground near 



Honolulu ; having perhaps been introduced with the manufacture of salt by colonial 



Whites. 



Kyllingia (monocephala; bis Rio Janeiro, Peru, and No. 1 Taheiti to the Feejee Islands). 



In the environs of Honolulu. 

 Panicum capillare ? (No. 8, compare United States). Frequent at Lahaina on West Maui, 



and in other localities; (possibly) introduced by colonial Whites? 



