Part 16

CANARY NUT.

This medium-sized nut-bearing tree is found growing in Java, Guam and the Philippines, and from any one of those countries may have been introduced to Hawaii. A fine specimen may be seen at the Government Nursery, Honolulu. Its leaves are alternate, odd pinnate. The small flowers come in terminal panicles. The fruit or nut is ellipsoidal. The thick skin, which is purple-colored when ripe, covers a hard, three-lobed stone, which differs from a pecan nut only in that it is sharp at each end. The kernel is small, sweet and edible. Trees propagated from the mature nuts.

One half natural size.]

G. P. W. Collection. PLATE LXXIX

Canarium commune.

CANARY NUT (round variety).

Few trees of this round variety are to be found in Hawaii. Its leaves are smaller than those of the preceding variety, and it is a very poor bearer.

One half natural size.]

G. P. W. Collection. PLATE LXXX

Macadamia ternifolia.

QUEENSLAND NUT.

This sub-tropical Australian tree sometimes grows to a height of 60 feet, but in Hawaii is of medium size. It is symmetrical and handsome, having dark green, shiny foliage, and long tassel-like white flowers. Its glabrous leaves are sessile, oblong, lanceolate, serrate, with fine prickly teeth, and come in whorls of 3 to 4, varying in length from a few inches to a foot. Flowers small; fruit has a thick, very hard shell, which when ripe is a smooth, shiny brown. The kernel is white, crisp and sweet, and has the flavor of hazel nuts. It may be eaten either raw or roasted. The tree matures its fruit in the Fall months, and is easily propagated from the fresh nuts.

One half natural size.]

G. P. W. Collection. PLATE LXXXI

Macadamia sp.

This variety of the Queensland nut has leaves and fruit larger than those of Macadamia ternifolia.

One half natural size.]

G. P. W. Collection. PLATE LXXXII

Aegle Marmelos.

BHEL OR BAEL FRUIT.

This small spinose tree is a native of tropical Asia, and although not commonly grown in Hawaii, specimens may be found in several gardens. It has alternate trifoliolate leaves, and flowers, which grow in clusters, are small and fragrant. The gourd-like fruit, with its hard shell, is from 2 to 4 inches in diameter, and is either round or pear-shaped, and although heavy and solid, it will float in water. The rind, when ripe, is a yellowish-brown color, and is studded with oil cells. The interior surface of the skin is lined with open-mouthed cells, which pour their gummy secretions into the interior of the carpel, filling it and bathing the seed. The pulp is sweet and aromatic, and is esteemed for making conserves, and also as a cooling drink.

In India, the roots and leaves are used medicinally. Bael gum is a sticky, astringent substance soluble in water. The fruit contains several large, flat, woolly seeds, which germinate readily, and the plant is also very easily propagated from root cuttings.

One third natural size.]

G. P. W. Collection. PLATE LXXXIII

Diospyros decandra.

BROWN PERSIMMON.

This is an evergreen tree rarely found in Hawaii. It has alternate, irregular, long, narrow leaves, shiny dark-green on the upper side, a velvety light-green on the underside, and has a long petiole. The branches are brittle, light-green, smooth and shiny when young, and after the leaves shed become woody and inclined to dry back.

The trunk and bark of the tree is covered with warty excresences. The solitary flowers are four-petaled. The edible fruit ripens in December, is round, depressed, about 2½ inches in diameter, in color light-green dotted with numerous white spots. When quite ripe the thin skin turns to a shiny-brown. The soft chocolate colored pulp is sweet and contains from 1 to 8 large flat seeds.