102 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



Two very abundant flowering shrubs of the drier low- 

 lands and valleys are the klu {Acacia Farnensiana) and the 

 ko'a-lci (Lcucacna glauca). Both were introduced many years 

 2L.go, and are now thoroughly naturalized. The spiny klu has 

 globular heads of tiny, fragrant, rich yellow flowers. The 

 floral heads of the koa-lci are larger^ — an inch in diameter — 

 and white. These mimosaceous plants frequently become tall 

 shrubs or small trees, and are continuously and profusely laden 

 with bloom. The klu has formed extensive thickets or chapar- 

 ral on the Oahu lowlands, and is also abundant as an under- 

 shrul) in the valuable kiard'c, or mesquite {Pro so pis juliflora) 

 groves. 



A low shrub, also^ of the Legume family, that enlivens 

 with its masses of yellow flowers the barren lower slopes and 

 open places in the drier woodlands is the he-uhi-iihi, {Cassia 

 Gaudichaudii) . The flowers are clustered in axillary racemes, 

 and are plentiful after the winter rains. The individual flower 

 is not especially conspicuous, but the mass effect is noteworthy. 



A number of representatives of the Convolvulus family 

 are common, and possess showy ''morning-gdory" flowers. 

 The pili-kai {Argyrciai Tiliaefoiia) is a stout woodly liana, oc- 

 curring here and there on the lowlands and valley floors. The 

 pale purple flowers are 2^ inches long, and abundant among 

 the large heart-shaped leaves. The po-hue-hue {Ipomoea pes- 

 caprac) is characteristic of Hawaii's coral beaches, like those 

 of many other tropical strands. Its prostrate creeping stems 

 often attain a length of thirty or forty feet, with large, glossy, 

 succulent two-lobed leaves, and purplish-pink flowers two 

 inches long. Ipoiiwca bomi-no^x, native of India, climbs over 

 our lowland veg^etation, and forms great masses of foliage. 

 The white flowers are very showy, with a long slender corolla- 

 tulDe of three to four inches, and a spreading limb of three to 

 four inches in diameter. The blossoms open in the cool of the 

 afternoon, and remain open throughout the night, wilting 



