Euphorbfaceae. 129 
Croton is by far the most variable plant in the Hawaiian Islands. 
It is planted in hedges or in scattered clumps and is quite ornamental. 
Scale insects attack it very badly and if not washed carefully the 
plant has a dilapidated appearance. 
Hura crepitans L. 
Sandbox Tree. 
Plate LIII. 
The Sandbox Tree is of medium height, thirty to forty feet, 
with a rather spreading crown and therefore often planted as a shade 
tree. The leaves are simple, broad and long stalked, heart-shaped, 
and have numerous white veins. The flowers of this tree are 
rather peculiar, the male or staminate flowers are arranged on a 
spike, while the pistillate flower is naked, with a large trumpet- 
shaped divided stigma. The fruit differs from that of other 
euphorbiaceous genera in having a capsule of numerous divisions, 
reminding one of the fruits of Malva. 
When the fruits ripen they split open with a loud report, which 
has suggested the name "Monkeys' dinner bell." 
The tree is milky throughout and decidedly poisonous, it is acrid 
and irritant. The Sandbox Tree is a native of tropical America but 
has been introduced into many tropical countries to be planted as a 
shade tree. The wood is rather soft, and fibrous in texture. The 
seeds are employed as a purgative as is also an oil expressed from 
them which is said to be less nauseous than Castor oil. In working 
this wood in the West Indies care is taken that the dust does not 
enter the eyes or nose as it is very irritant, produces inflammation, 
and may even lead to blindness. The milky juice when applied to 
the eyes causes almost immediate blindness according to reports 
from India. 
In Honolulu there are only a very few trees or perhaps only two, 
one in the Government Nursery grounds, the other on the corner of 
Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue, on the vacant park-like lot, 
opposite the Pleasanton Hotel. Owing to its poisonous character it 
is not a desirable tree. 
Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. 
POINSETTIA. 
The Poinsettia is a milky shrub reaching a height of twelve feet. 
The leaves are elliptical, the upper ones lanceolate and pointed, the 
