NOTED FOREST TREES OF TAHITIThe forests of Tahiti comprise many species of trees, the timber of which would command a high price in the market, but it is my intention here to enumerate and briefly describe only a few of the trees which interest the visitor the most, as he will see them wherever he goes as shade trees, and as component parts of the magnificent forests.Purau or Buraois theHibiscus tiliaceus(Linné), (syn.:Paritium tiliaceum), orderMalvaceæ. The flowers are bell-shaped, of a beautiful canary color, but quickly fall and turn to red or reddish brown. They are made up of five imbricated petals, painted a dark brown at their base and inner surface. The glaucous leaf-like calix is five-parted. The five stamens form a sheath for the pistil, which is five-parted and brown at its apex. The large leaves are used by the native housewives in lieu of a table-cloth. It is said that the macerated leaves and flowers are used to heal burns, bruises, etc. (McDaniels). The trunks of the largest trees are made into canoes. The inner tough bark serves as a substitute for hemp in the making of twine and ropes. The roots of this tree have earned a reputation as a valuable medicine in the treatment of diseases of the gastro-intestinal canal. This is a common and beautiful shade tree in Papeete, and if the traveler visits the island in January or February he will find it in full bloom. The dark green leaves and the light yellow flowers form a very pleasing contrast. It attains a height of from forty to sixty and more feet. The short and often very crooked stem sends off numerous large branches, clothed, like the stem, in a rough black bark. The branches are often so crooked and tortuous that they form such an intricate entanglement that even the woodman's ax would meet with difficulties to isolate and liberate them. The branches appear to have an intrinsic tendency to reach the ground, and when they do so strike root and become daughter trees, growing skyward, and soon rival in height the parent tree. In the woods it is not uncommon to find the parent tree surrounded at variable distances by numerous daughter trees. Many such ambitious branches are formed into graceful arches before they attain the wished-for independence. This tree, with its numerous offspring and interlacing branches, contributes much in rendering the jungles in which it grows impenetrable in many places. The wood is white and soft. The leaves are as large as an ordinary small soup-plate, long-petioled, seven-ribbed, broadly cordate and acuminate, dark green and glossy on their upper, and strongly veined and paler, on their lower surface.CASCADE OF FAUTAHUACASCADE OF FAUTAHUABanyan Tree.—TheFicus Indica, a native tree of India, remarkable for its vast rooting branches, outstripping in this respect by far the tree just described. It is a species of wild fig, has ovate, heart-shaped, entire leaves, about five or six inches long, and produces a fruit of a rich scarlet color, not larger than a cherry, growing in pairs front the axils of the leaves. The branches send shoots downwards, which, when they have rooted, become stems; the tree in this manner spreading over a great surface, and enduring for many years. The banyan tree found in the island of Tahiti docs not spread as much as the Indian tree, and the aerial roots which later become a part of the trunk after they strike the ground and develop an independent existence, become supplied with new roots. Most of the aerial roots of the Tahitian tree take their origin from the lower part of the trunk and remain in close contact with it after they strike the ground, and many of them remain dangling free in the air in vain attempts to secure an independent existence, the branch roots being comparatively few. The tree is found at short intervals along the ninety-mile drive, and the largest one I saw was in the front yard of the Cercle Bougainville, the French club in Papeete.Pandanus Tree, Screw Pine.—ThePandanus Freycinctianatural order ofPandaneæ. There are about fifty species of this tree, natives of South Africa to Polynesia. The pandanus tree of Tahiti is a palm-like tree which is found along the shore close to the water's edge, with a short white stem, much branched with long, simple imbricated leaves, usually spiny on the back and margin, their base embracing the stem, their spiral arrangement being well marked. The base of the stem does not touch the ground, but rests on a cluster of strong roots, which diverge somewhat before they strike the soil. The leaves are much used for thatch roofs and the thin, compact, superficial layer serves as wrappers for the native cigarettes. The fruit is edible and is eaten by the natives in times of scarcity of food.Flame Tree, Flamboyer.—TheBrachychiton acerifoliumis the Australian flame-tree introduced, as is asserted, into Tahiti by Bougainville. It is a magnificent and common shade tree in Papeete, but is also found scattered all along the coast of the island. It is an evergreen tree with showy trusses of crimson flowers. This is the most beautiful of all ornamental trees in the island. The mucilaginous sap, when exuded, indurates to a kind of bassarin—tragacanth.
NOTED FOREST TREES OF TAHITIThe forests of Tahiti comprise many species of trees, the timber of which would command a high price in the market, but it is my intention here to enumerate and briefly describe only a few of the trees which interest the visitor the most, as he will see them wherever he goes as shade trees, and as component parts of the magnificent forests.Purau or Buraois theHibiscus tiliaceus(Linné), (syn.:Paritium tiliaceum), orderMalvaceæ. The flowers are bell-shaped, of a beautiful canary color, but quickly fall and turn to red or reddish brown. They are made up of five imbricated petals, painted a dark brown at their base and inner surface. The glaucous leaf-like calix is five-parted. The five stamens form a sheath for the pistil, which is five-parted and brown at its apex. The large leaves are used by the native housewives in lieu of a table-cloth. It is said that the macerated leaves and flowers are used to heal burns, bruises, etc. (McDaniels). The trunks of the largest trees are made into canoes. The inner tough bark serves as a substitute for hemp in the making of twine and ropes. The roots of this tree have earned a reputation as a valuable medicine in the treatment of diseases of the gastro-intestinal canal. This is a common and beautiful shade tree in Papeete, and if the traveler visits the island in January or February he will find it in full bloom. The dark green leaves and the light yellow flowers form a very pleasing contrast. It attains a height of from forty to sixty and more feet. The short and often very crooked stem sends off numerous large branches, clothed, like the stem, in a rough black bark. The branches are often so crooked and tortuous that they form such an intricate entanglement that even the woodman's ax would meet with difficulties to isolate and liberate them. The branches appear to have an intrinsic tendency to reach the ground, and when they do so strike root and become daughter trees, growing skyward, and soon rival in height the parent tree. In the woods it is not uncommon to find the parent tree surrounded at variable distances by numerous daughter trees. Many such ambitious branches are formed into graceful arches before they attain the wished-for independence. This tree, with its numerous offspring and interlacing branches, contributes much in rendering the jungles in which it grows impenetrable in many places. The wood is white and soft. The leaves are as large as an ordinary small soup-plate, long-petioled, seven-ribbed, broadly cordate and acuminate, dark green and glossy on their upper, and strongly veined and paler, on their lower surface.CASCADE OF FAUTAHUACASCADE OF FAUTAHUABanyan Tree.—TheFicus Indica, a native tree of India, remarkable for its vast rooting branches, outstripping in this respect by far the tree just described. It is a species of wild fig, has ovate, heart-shaped, entire leaves, about five or six inches long, and produces a fruit of a rich scarlet color, not larger than a cherry, growing in pairs front the axils of the leaves. The branches send shoots downwards, which, when they have rooted, become stems; the tree in this manner spreading over a great surface, and enduring for many years. The banyan tree found in the island of Tahiti docs not spread as much as the Indian tree, and the aerial roots which later become a part of the trunk after they strike the ground and develop an independent existence, become supplied with new roots. Most of the aerial roots of the Tahitian tree take their origin from the lower part of the trunk and remain in close contact with it after they strike the ground, and many of them remain dangling free in the air in vain attempts to secure an independent existence, the branch roots being comparatively few. The tree is found at short intervals along the ninety-mile drive, and the largest one I saw was in the front yard of the Cercle Bougainville, the French club in Papeete.Pandanus Tree, Screw Pine.—ThePandanus Freycinctianatural order ofPandaneæ. There are about fifty species of this tree, natives of South Africa to Polynesia. The pandanus tree of Tahiti is a palm-like tree which is found along the shore close to the water's edge, with a short white stem, much branched with long, simple imbricated leaves, usually spiny on the back and margin, their base embracing the stem, their spiral arrangement being well marked. The base of the stem does not touch the ground, but rests on a cluster of strong roots, which diverge somewhat before they strike the soil. The leaves are much used for thatch roofs and the thin, compact, superficial layer serves as wrappers for the native cigarettes. The fruit is edible and is eaten by the natives in times of scarcity of food.Flame Tree, Flamboyer.—TheBrachychiton acerifoliumis the Australian flame-tree introduced, as is asserted, into Tahiti by Bougainville. It is a magnificent and common shade tree in Papeete, but is also found scattered all along the coast of the island. It is an evergreen tree with showy trusses of crimson flowers. This is the most beautiful of all ornamental trees in the island. The mucilaginous sap, when exuded, indurates to a kind of bassarin—tragacanth.
The forests of Tahiti comprise many species of trees, the timber of which would command a high price in the market, but it is my intention here to enumerate and briefly describe only a few of the trees which interest the visitor the most, as he will see them wherever he goes as shade trees, and as component parts of the magnificent forests.
Purau or Buraois theHibiscus tiliaceus(Linné), (syn.:Paritium tiliaceum), orderMalvaceæ. The flowers are bell-shaped, of a beautiful canary color, but quickly fall and turn to red or reddish brown. They are made up of five imbricated petals, painted a dark brown at their base and inner surface. The glaucous leaf-like calix is five-parted. The five stamens form a sheath for the pistil, which is five-parted and brown at its apex. The large leaves are used by the native housewives in lieu of a table-cloth. It is said that the macerated leaves and flowers are used to heal burns, bruises, etc. (McDaniels). The trunks of the largest trees are made into canoes. The inner tough bark serves as a substitute for hemp in the making of twine and ropes. The roots of this tree have earned a reputation as a valuable medicine in the treatment of diseases of the gastro-intestinal canal. This is a common and beautiful shade tree in Papeete, and if the traveler visits the island in January or February he will find it in full bloom. The dark green leaves and the light yellow flowers form a very pleasing contrast. It attains a height of from forty to sixty and more feet. The short and often very crooked stem sends off numerous large branches, clothed, like the stem, in a rough black bark. The branches are often so crooked and tortuous that they form such an intricate entanglement that even the woodman's ax would meet with difficulties to isolate and liberate them. The branches appear to have an intrinsic tendency to reach the ground, and when they do so strike root and become daughter trees, growing skyward, and soon rival in height the parent tree. In the woods it is not uncommon to find the parent tree surrounded at variable distances by numerous daughter trees. Many such ambitious branches are formed into graceful arches before they attain the wished-for independence. This tree, with its numerous offspring and interlacing branches, contributes much in rendering the jungles in which it grows impenetrable in many places. The wood is white and soft. The leaves are as large as an ordinary small soup-plate, long-petioled, seven-ribbed, broadly cordate and acuminate, dark green and glossy on their upper, and strongly veined and paler, on their lower surface.
CASCADE OF FAUTAHUACASCADE OF FAUTAHUA
CASCADE OF FAUTAHUA
Banyan Tree.—TheFicus Indica, a native tree of India, remarkable for its vast rooting branches, outstripping in this respect by far the tree just described. It is a species of wild fig, has ovate, heart-shaped, entire leaves, about five or six inches long, and produces a fruit of a rich scarlet color, not larger than a cherry, growing in pairs front the axils of the leaves. The branches send shoots downwards, which, when they have rooted, become stems; the tree in this manner spreading over a great surface, and enduring for many years. The banyan tree found in the island of Tahiti docs not spread as much as the Indian tree, and the aerial roots which later become a part of the trunk after they strike the ground and develop an independent existence, become supplied with new roots. Most of the aerial roots of the Tahitian tree take their origin from the lower part of the trunk and remain in close contact with it after they strike the ground, and many of them remain dangling free in the air in vain attempts to secure an independent existence, the branch roots being comparatively few. The tree is found at short intervals along the ninety-mile drive, and the largest one I saw was in the front yard of the Cercle Bougainville, the French club in Papeete.
Pandanus Tree, Screw Pine.—ThePandanus Freycinctianatural order ofPandaneæ. There are about fifty species of this tree, natives of South Africa to Polynesia. The pandanus tree of Tahiti is a palm-like tree which is found along the shore close to the water's edge, with a short white stem, much branched with long, simple imbricated leaves, usually spiny on the back and margin, their base embracing the stem, their spiral arrangement being well marked. The base of the stem does not touch the ground, but rests on a cluster of strong roots, which diverge somewhat before they strike the soil. The leaves are much used for thatch roofs and the thin, compact, superficial layer serves as wrappers for the native cigarettes. The fruit is edible and is eaten by the natives in times of scarcity of food.
Flame Tree, Flamboyer.—TheBrachychiton acerifoliumis the Australian flame-tree introduced, as is asserted, into Tahiti by Bougainville. It is a magnificent and common shade tree in Papeete, but is also found scattered all along the coast of the island. It is an evergreen tree with showy trusses of crimson flowers. This is the most beautiful of all ornamental trees in the island. The mucilaginous sap, when exuded, indurates to a kind of bassarin—tragacanth.