Lythraceae-Lecythidaceae. 163 
Another very handsome species is hag erst roc una indica Linn., 
the Crape Myrtle. It is, however, not a tree, but a shrub twelve 
to fifteen feet in height, with slender, four-angled branches, which 
are narrowly winged ; the leaves are much smaller than in the fore- 
going species. The flowers are very showy, pink or purplish and are 
arranged in small terminal panicles. The capsule is also smaller. 
The Crape Myrlte is a native of China, but has been widely cul- 
tivated. In Honolulu it is much more common than the foregoing 
species, but still not plentiful. Both species certainly deserve to be 
more generally cultivated. It is a profuse bloomer and is most 
easily cultivated from seed as well as cuttings. It blossoms during 
a period of two or three months beginning usually in June. Speci- 
mens may be seen on Nuuanu Street, also on Keeaumoku Street, and 
elsewhere. It was named in honor of Magnus v. Lagerstroem 
(1696-1759), a friend of Linnaeus. 
Of the Punicaceae or Pomegranate family, which consists of a 
single genus with two species, only the common Pomegranate, Pun'ica 
granatum L., is under cultivation. It is a native of eastern sub- 
tropical Asia. 
LECYTHIDACEAE 
Barringtonia Family. 
Formerly the members of this family were classed with the 
Myrtaceae, with which it has, however, little in common. It is 
much closer to the Mangrove Family ( Rhizophoraceae ) , through Bar- 
ringtonia on one side and to the Blattiaceae through the genus Foeti- 
dia on the other. 
The genus Barringtonia only is represented by two species. 
Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Km-z. 
(Syn. Barringtonia speciosa Forst. ) 
Plate LXVII. 
The Barringtonia asiatica is a large, handsome tree with thick, 
leathery, glossy, bright green wedge-shaped leaves which are glab- 
rous; the flowers are quite conspicuous, having four white petals and 
numerous crimson-tipped stamens, resembling a brush ; the fruit has 
the shape of a four-sided pyramid, is quite large and consists, when 
dry, of a solid fibrous case, which is smooth outside and contains one 
seed. This fibrous case enables the fruits to float, and as it is quite 
thick and solid, it protects the seed from coming into contact with 
salt water, thus keeping its germinating power from being destroyed. 
