12 FLORA VITIENSIS. 
pedicellis 8-5 umbellato-congestis gracilibus (rarius solitariis), alabastro obovoideo-globosis glabris ; 
sepalis 4 obovato-orbiculatis concavis ; petalis 0.—Apoterium: Soulatri, Blum. Bijdr. oi 1. p. 218. 
C. hirtellum, Mig. Plant. Jungh. p. 291. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, af Damanu dilodilo. —Viti Levu 
(Seemann! n. 47; U.S. Expl. Exped.). Also collected in Tahiti by Abbadie (n. 29), according to 
Planchon and Triana; Samoan and Tongan Islands (U, S. Expl. Exped.), and Mauritius, Bourbon, 
Java, and Penang. 
I did not find this species in flower, but the United States Exploring Expedition did, and Professor 
Asa Gray has identified my specimens with those collected by the latter. The young leaves, when first 
unfolding, have a deep red tinge. The wood is highly esteemed by the natives for building purposes. 
3. C. Inophyllum, Linn, Spec. 732; Planch. et Trian. l.c.; arboreum, elaberrimum ; foliis 
petiolatis late oblongo-obovatis v. oblongis basi seepius acutis apice rotundatis v. retusis ; racemis 
axillaribus foliis brevioribus laxifloris; floribus pro genere amplis longe pedicellatis, alabastris sub- 
globosis; sepalis 4 internis petaloideis; petalis 4 (v. rarius 6-8? fide Rumph. et Blum.) calyce 
longioribus; fructu globoso Pruni minoris mole, Rumph.—Parkins. Drawings of Tahit. Pl. (ined.) 
t. 55; Wight, Illustr. vol, i. t. 128; ibid. Icon. t.77. Bingator maritima, Rumph. Amb. vol. il. p. 
211.t. 71; Ponnav. Ponna Maram, Rheed. Mal. vol. iv. p. 76. t. 88. Balsamaria Inophyllum, Lour. 
Cochin. 470. Calophyllum Bingator, Roxb. Fl, Ind. vol. ii. p. 607. C. Blumei, Wight, Llustr, 
p. 128. C. ovalifolium, Nor. Verh. Batay, Gen. vol. vy. p. 74. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, ‘‘ Dilo ;” 
Tahiteense, “'Tamanu.”—-A common seaside tree in Viti (Seemann! n. 48; Storck! n. 873). Also 
collected in New Caledonia (Forster !), Society Islands (Banks and Solander! Forster !), and Hawaiian 
Islands (Macrae!). Diffused over the East Indies, Ceylon, Cochin China, Philippine Islands, ete. 
The most valuable oil produced in Fiji is that extracted from the seeds of this tree, the Dilo of the 
natives, the Tamanu of Eastern Polynesia, and the Cashumpa of India. It is the bitter oil, or woondel, 
of Indian commerce. The natives use it for polishing arms and greasing their bodies, when cocoa-nut 
oil is not at hand. But the great reputation this oil enjoys throughout Polynesia and the East Indies 
rests upon its medicinal properties, as a liniment in rheumatism, pains in the joints, and bruises. Its 
efficacy in this respect can hardly be exaggerated, and recommends it to the attention of European practi- 
tioners. The oil is, kept by the Fijians in gourd flasks, and, there being only a limited quantity made, I 
was charged about sixpence per pint for it, paid in calico and cutlery. The tree is one of the most 
common littoral plants in the group; its round fruits, mixed with the square-shaped ones of Barring- 
tonia speciosa, the pine-cone-like ones of the Sago-palm (Sagus Vitiensis, Wendl.), and the flat seeds of 
the Walai (Zntada scandens, Benth.), densely cover the sandy beaches. ‘ilo oil neyer congeals in the 
lowest temperature of the Fijis, as cocoa-nut oil often does during the cool season. It is of a greenish 
tinge, and a very little of it will impart its hue to a whole cask of cocoa-nut oil. Its commercial value is 
only partially known in the Fijis, and was found out accidentally. Amongst the contributions in cocoa- 
nut oil which the natives furnish towards the support of the Wesleyan missions, some Dilo oil had been 
poured, which, on arriving at Sydney, was rejected by the broker who purchased the other oil, on account 
of its greenish tinge and strange appearance. On being shown to others, a chemist, recognizing it as the 
bitter oil of India, purchased it at the rate of £60 per tun; and he must have made a good profit on it, 
as the article fetches as much as £90 per tun. The Dilo grows to the height of sixty feet, and the stem 
is from three to four feet in diameter, generally thickly crowded with epiphytal Orchids and Ferns. The 
dark foliage forms a magnificent crown, producing a dense shade; and when, during the flowering season, 
it 1s interspersed with numerous white flowers, the aspect of the whole tree is truly noble. “ The leaves 
are torn in small pieces, soaked in water for a night, and then used for washing inflamed eyes.” (Storck.) 
The exudation from the stem is, according to G. Bennett, the Tacamahaca resin of commerce, used by Tahi- 
ae ‘ a scent. Carpenters and cabinet-makers value the wood on account of its beautiful grain, hardness, 
ee es fee Boa ae eon oes ate built of it, and it is named with the Vesi (Afzelia bijuga, A. Gray) as 
nber produced in Fiji. In order to extract the oil, the round fruit is allowed to drop in its 
outer fleshy covering and rot on the ground. The remaining portion, consisting of a shell (putamen) some- 
what of the consistency of that of a hen’s ege, and enclosing the kernel, is baked on hot stones, in the same 
way that Polynesian vegetables and meat are. The shell is then broken, and the kernel pounded between 
ee Tf the quantity be small, the macerated mass is placed in the fibres of the Vau (Hibiscus tiliaceus 
te 4: adda aie ees by the hand to yield up its oily contents ; if large, a rude level press is constructed 
aes ong fue ee between two cocoa-nut trees, and appending to this perpendicularly the 
. ‘he macerated kernels have been placed in the midst, a pole is made fast to the lower 
