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G. P. W. Collection.

PLATE CVIII

Cereus triangularis.

NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS.

Although this plant with its wonderful nocturnal blossoms may be found growing almost everywhere in the Islands, the best specimens of its kind may be seen on the stone walls of Oahu College. The beautiful creamy flowers with their yellow centers are large, about a foot long, and when in full bloom about the same in diameter. The tube is covered with large, leaf-like green scales. The fruit, which is about 31⁄2 inches long and 2 inches in diameter, is covered with persistent, large, fleshy scales which are scarlet colored when ripe, and the interior pulp is edible and refreshing. Fruit, however, upon the night-blooming cereus in Hawaii is rather rare, although a few fine specimens have matured.

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G. P. W. Collection.

Kigelia pinnata.

PLATE CIX

SAUSAGE TREE.

This medium-sized and very handsome shade tree is a native of tropical Africa. It was probably introduced to Hawaii by Dr. Hillebrand. A fine tree of this species is growing in Mrs. Foster's garden, Nuuanu avenue. It has large pinnate leaves, and panicles of purple flowers. The peculiar rough, grey, oblong fruits hang from a long stem, and present an odd appearance. This tree and also one other of the same variety growing in the grounds of the Queen's Hospital, very rarely set their fruit. Because of the difficulty of obtaining seeds, the sausage tree has not been widely distributed.

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G. P. W. Collection.

Phoenix dactylifera.

THE DATE PALM.

PLATE CX

The date, which is a native of North Africa, Arabia, and Per sia, is a noble palm, often growing to a height of from 80 to 100 feet. It is of remarkable longevity, and will continue to produce fruit even at the age of a hundred years. The neighborhood of the sea is considereed unfavorable to their production, although they will luxuriate in satlish soil and bear well when brackish water is used.

Many varieties of dates exist, the fruit differing in shape, size and color. They will grow from seeds, although the superior varieties can be continued only from off-shoots of the root. These will commence to bear in five years. In Asia, the growers of the commercial date find it necessary to pollinate artificially by hanging sprays of the male flowers in the branches of the fruit-bearing trees. There are no imported trees bearing in Hawaii, and although there are many date trees in Honolulu, artificial pollination would doubtless greatly increase the yield and the quality of the fruit.

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