30 



UALAN. 



the larger species are of a fine green. All, but principally the first mentioned, 

 exhibit, when closely examined, a great elegance in the texture of the leaves. 

 Although the smaller species ("Katak") is highly esteemed as an article of food, 

 it is nevertheless nowhere planted in greater masses, probably because it grows 

 wild in sufficient abundance. As far as we could see, all three species occur in 

 forests of the uninhabited parts of the island, on the banks of rivulets, and not 

 gregariously, and therefore do not seem to have been introduced. The larger 

 species, with rounded leaves, often forms a trunk, but that with pointed leaves 

 (Caladium sagittifoUum) (6 f) does not; in the former the spadix is erect, and 

 shorter than the spathe, whilst in the other it is nodding, as is the peduncle 

 supporting it. Pandanus odoratissimus (14 | 15 k), as a highly characteristic 

 figure, can as little be dispensed with in such a picture as the bread-fruit tree. 

 One would think that the reason why it principally occurs and flourishes near 

 human habitations, may be sought in its claiming a place amongst the useful 

 plants of this place, perhaps on account of its leaves being indispensable for thatch 

 and matting. But also its fruit, though its nutritious qualities are slight, seems 

 to be much esteemed in Ualan, as was evident from the importance attached to 

 those presented to us. This fruit, or rather head of fruits, has, when ripe, a very 

 fine appearance ; it is larger than a man's head, round, and of a splendid orange 

 colour, each drupe being pale green at the point. This tinge, and the crown of 

 leaves, recall to mind the pine-apple.* Close by will be seen the Morinda 

 citrifolia (12 | 13 m), abounding in these valleys; it does not grow much 

 higher than the specimen here shown. The fruit ripens about this season ; it is 

 of a whitish colour and a poor flavour, whilst the foliage is distinguished by a 

 pale green. A kind of orange tree (8 | 9 e) is generally associated with it; 

 attaining only a limited height ; it has, unlike most of the trees, a thick bushy 

 crown ; the colour of the foliage is a dark green. The same tint was common to 

 its fruit, much esteemed by the natives, but about this season scarcely ripe. To 

 the most prominent plants of this island belongs the widely diffused Dracama ter- 

 minalis (12 o ; 15 o), commonly used for hedges, and imparting to the dwellings 

 a picturesque appearance, which the variegated tint of the leaves greatly con- 

 tributes to increase, it being a faint bluish green, and at the points of the blade 

 pink and pale yellow. A fine Crinurn (3 g), with massive leaves, grows isolated 

 about the outskirts of the forests, but I do not remember having seen it in bloom. 



* The Fijians, having no name for the pine-apple it Balawa ni jpapalagi, or foreign Pandanus. — Ber- 

 when it was first introduced to their islands, made thold Seemann. 

 the same apt comparison as our author, in terming 



