THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



105 



inches. Our rarest species is the red ko'kio {H. kokio) a tall 

 straggling shrub of eight to fourteen feet. The flowers are 

 small, two and one-half to three inches, rich red, with a con- 

 spicuous red staminal column, which has horizontally spread- 

 ing stylar branches. One's first glimpse of a native hibiscus 

 bush, leaning out over a mountain stream, its lovely flowers 

 starred against the glossy greenery of the foliage, is a memor- 

 able experience. 



The Hawaiian violets are unique in all being woody 

 shrubs, sometimes reaching six feet in height, but with flowers 

 like those of the familiar violets of eastern woodlands and 

 gardens. We have half a dozen species, of the genus Viola, 

 and all confined almost exclusively to the excessively humid 

 summit ridges and bogs. In certain favorable localities they 

 are so abundant that they richly perfume the humid air with 

 their delicious fragrance. One species, V. helioscopa^ has 

 lovely large pure white blooms which project singly beyond 

 the stiff, dark green foliage. 



{To he continued.) 



