Lauraceae-Hernandiaceae. 73 
Another species of this genus Cinnamomum camphora Nees, the 
Camphor Tree, reaches quite large dimensions ; it has smooth shining 
leaves, which when crushed emit a strong odor of camphor. It is a 
native of China, Japan and the Malay Islands and is of early intro- 
duction. Quite a number of trees can be found scattered throughout 
the Territory. Large specimens may be seen in the Royal Mausoleum 
grounds on Nuuanu Avenue near the entrance; others occur on Maui, 
Hawaii and probably elsewhere in the Territory, where it has been 
under cultivation for many years. 
HERNANDIACEAE 
This family is represented by the following species only : 
Hernandia peltata Meissn. 
Hernandia peltata is a large spreading tree with thick, bright 
green, broadly ovate pointed leaves, which are peltately attached near 
the base, the larger ones being nearly a foot long. The flowering 
panicles are shorter than the leaves, and the flowers are almost clus- 
tered on the branches ; the female flowers are terminal, with one or 
two male flowers lower down. The fruit is completely enclosed with 
the involucel which becomes inflated globular and fleshy, with a 
circular entire orifice at the top; the fruit is about an inch in dia- 
meter and marked with eight broad, raised, longitudinal ribs. The 
seeds are very hard, and are about three-fourths of an inch in dia- 
meter. 
This evergreen tree is a native of Southeast Asia, the South 
Pacific, Mascarene and Philippine Islands, Guam and Loo Choo Isl- 
and, besides occurring also in Queensland, Australia, in all of which 
countries it grows in the coast forest. The wood is very light, and 
takes fire readily from a flint and steel. 
The juice is a powerful depilatory and removes hair without pain. 
The bark and leaves act as a cathartic. Very few trees are in culti- 
vation in Honolulu. The largest specimen grows in the grounds of 
the Board of Agriculture on King Street. The author collected it 
on the shores of Guam, and young specimens have now been planted 
on the College grounds. 
