Polygonaceae-Nyctaginaceae. 69 
POLYGONACEAE 
The family Polygonaceae is represented by two genera and in 
turn each genus by one species. Coccoloba uvifera Jacq., the Sea 
grape or Pigeon wood, is a tree of medium or large size and grows 
near the sea in the West Indies. In Jamaica the wood is esteemed for 
cabinet work. It is propagated by cuttings. A specimen may be seen 
in Mr. Jordan's grounds on Wyllie Street, Nuuanu. 
Muehlenbeckia platyclada Meissn. is a shrub, often climbing, 
with phyllodic branches resembling the broad, flat Hawaiian 
Mistletoe, and fleshy leaves which it throws off soon after their ap- 
pearance. It is a native of the Solomon Islands, and is sparingly 
cultivated in Honolulu. To this family belongs also the Mexican 
Creeper Antigonon leptopus H. et A. a native of West Mexico and 
commonly cultivated in Honolulu, where only the red variety is seen. 
NYCTAGINACEAE 
No introduced arborescent species of this family are to be found 
in Honolulu or elsewhere in the Territory but there are several 
climbers of great beauty which cannot well be omitted. The genus 
Bougainvillea named after De Bougainville, a French navigator, com- 
prises the well known climbers. 
Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. is the most commonly cultivated 
species, the floral bracts being either purple, red or brick red, the 
latter is horticulturally known as var. lateritia Hort. ; the small 
flowered everblooming variety is botanically known as B. spectabilis 
Willd. var. parviflora Mart. 
Bougainvillea glabra Choisy a perfectly glabrous species with 
rose-red bracts is also in cultivation. It differs from B. spectabilis 
Willd. in the branches and leaves, which are perfectly glabrous, in 
the lanceolate leaves and elliptical-lanceolate bracts. 
Of the Family Amaranthaceae the following may be mentioned 
but does not come within the scope of this work: Alternanthera 
versicolor Regel, a small border plant with variegated leaves, a native 
probably of Brazil. 
