Hernandiaceae-Moringaceae. 75 
Hernandia bivalvis Beuth. 
Hernandia bivalvis is a small tree with ovate-lanceolate, pointed 
leaves which are not peltate at the base. The inflorescence is as in 
H. peltata. The involucel, which is very large and encloses the fruit, 
is not simple but bi-valved, consisting of two inflated, almost mem- 
braneous, valves which are cordate at the base. The fruit is about 
ten-ribbed and the seed is as in the other species. It is a native of 
Queensland, Australia. Only one single tree occurs in Honolulu ; it 
can be found on the grounds of the Government Nursery, near the 
Young Street side. 
MORINGACEAE 
Moringa oleifera Lam. 
Horse-radish Tree. 
Plate XXX. 
The Horse-radish Tree is of medium height, never more than 
twenty-five feet, has a corky bark, and roots with a pungent taste. 
The leaves are pinnate, pale beneath, and thin. The white flowers are 
borne in spreading panicles. The pod is pendulous, three-angled, and 
ribbed ; the seeds are also triquetrous and winged on the angles. The 
tree, though widely distributed in the tropics, is a native of Asia, 
occurring in the Himalayan tracts but is commonly cultivated in In- 
dia, Burmah, and in some parts of Africa, especially in Togo, where 
it is planted from cuttings as a hedge. The seeds yield a rather clear, 
colorless oil, which is easily extracted by means of pressure. It is 
composed of olein, margarine and stearine, and is considered one of 
the best lubricants for fine machinery and is especially valued by 
watch-makers, but is also used for the manufacture of perfumed hair- 
oil, owing to its great power of absorbing and retaining the most 
fugitive ordors. 
In India, flowers, leaves, and pods are cooked in various ways as 
a pot-herb, while the root is used as a condiment. The roots of 
young trees when scraped resemble horse-radish, and taste so much 
like it that the nicest palate could not distinguish the two. There 
are probably not more than three mature specimens of this tree in the 
Territory. The writer understands that a number of young plants 
have been raised from seed at Kahana by Mr. Leckenby. The one 
which is in Dr. W. Hillebrand's garden is probably the first speci- 
men introduced. 
