Leguminosae. 81 
The Opiuma is a native of Central America and Mexico, whence 
it was introduced into the Islands many years ago. 
The name Pithecolobium is derived from the Greek "monkey" 
and "pod" but has nothing to do with the tree known by the name 
Monkey-pod in Honolulu. The tree is now cultivated in other tropi- 
cal countries, especially in India. 
Samanea saman (Benth.) Merrill 
Plate XXXIII. 
Monkey-pod or Rain-Tree. 
The Monkey-pod is a large tree reaching a height sixty to seventy- 
five feet, with wide-spreading branches. The leaves are evenly two- 
pinnate, pinnae eight to twelve, with twelve to sixteen leaflets in 
the upper, and six to ten in the lower, pinnae decreasing in size 
downward and are from three-fourths to one and three-fourths of 
an inch long. The flowers are pink and arranged in dense, peduncled, 
axillary heads. The pod is straight, somewhat fleshy and indehiscent. 
The mesocarp is pulpy and sweet. This species was formerly known 
as Pithecolobium saman but it has not the dehiscent twisted pod 
ascribed to this genus. Mr. E. D. Merrill, Government Botanist of 
the Bureau of Science in Manila, P. I., has thought best to establish 
a new genus for it adopting the section name Samanea under which 
it was listed in the former genus. The Monkey-pod yields a yellow 
gum of poor quality. The gum occurs in irregular drops and vermic- 
ular pieces, is soft and tough, and swells in water into a tough carti- 
laginous mass, which turns from a deep reddish brown color to black. 
The sapwood is white, while the heartwood is brown, rather soft and 
perishable; it weighs about twenty-six pounds per cubic foot. It is 
a native of the West Indies and Central America, but is now 
cultivated in most tropical countries. It is grown from seed. The 
Monkey-pod or Rain-Tree is a rapid grower, especially under irri- 
gation. Its name Rain-Tree is probably derived from the falling 
liquid excreta of cicadeae insects which inhabit the trees in Central 
America. The name Monkey-pod is simply a translation of the old 
generic name Pithecolobium. 
It is one of the finest shade trees and is on that account well 
adapted for street-planting, where shade is required. It is most ex- 
tensively planted in the Islands ; fine specimens may be seen on Puna- 
hou Street, at Moanalua Gardens, and elsewhere ; some with a spread 
of over a hundred feet. 
