When in Hawaii, I made some observations on the germination of Batis maritima in sea-water, a plan with which I was also familiar in its home in the salt-water pools of the coast of Peru. The mature fruits, on being freed from the parent plant in sea-water, float away, and in from one to two weeks they break down from decay, setting free the seeds. The seeds float in sea-water indefinitely, their buoyancy only terminating with their germination, the first seeds germinating afloat about six weeks after the breaking down of the fruit, whilst the rest continue to float in the sea-water during the next three months, some of them germinating at intervals, and all of them doing so eventually. Strange to say, although the seedlings remained healthy whilst afloat in the sea-water, they made no effort either to separate the cotyledons or to produce a plumule.

NOTE 20 (page [42]).
On the Maximum Heights reached by some Shore Plants in their Extension Inland in Vanua Levu, Fiji

Since they occupy the “talasinga” districts described in the following note, these shore plants would be expected to extend as high as those districts extend, namely, to about 1,500 feet above the sea. This indeed represents their limit excepting in one instance; but many fall considerably short of this elevation.

Unless otherwise stated all the plants above named are common inland, as also are Premna tahitensis, Tacca pinnatifida, Tephrosia piscatoria, Hibiscus tiliaceus, &c.; but I have made no note of Thespesia populnea occurring far off the beach.

NOTE 21 (pages [42], [43])
On the Dwarfing of Shore Plants when extending Inland into the “Talasinga” Plains in Vanua Levu.

Premna tahitensis, 9 or 10 feet high at the coast, may here be only 3 feet high. Other trees like Morinda citrifolia become also stunted. Cerbera Odollam, a moderate-sized tree at the coast, may in the “talasinga” plains be only 4 to 6 feet high, but it here displays distinct varietal characters. Whilst the shore trees of Cerbera Odollam have broad leaves (length 3 times the breadth) with obtuse points, and short, stout flower-peduncles (11⁄2-2 inches), the inland or “talasinga” species has long lanceolate leaves (length 7 or 8 times the breadth), and long, slender flower peduncles (3 inches). However, intermediate forms are common, the broad-leaved coast tree approaching the inland plant and vice versâ.

NOTE 22 (page [43])
The “Talasinga” Plains of Vanua Levu, Fiji

Amongst the most conspicuous features of the north and north-west or lee sides of the large islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu are the extensive rolling plains that extend from the sea-border for some miles inland to the foot of the mountains. It is to those of the first-named island that the following remarks strictly apply; but no doubt they will serve equally well for those of the other island. In the first volume on the geology of Vanua Levu, reference is frequently made to this subject, and the reader may profitably look at the remarks there made.

Here the mountain-forests more or less abruptly cease, and we have an undulating region of grass, reeds, and ferns dotted over with Casuarinas, Pandanus trees, Cycads, Acacias, and shrubby growths. Though the list of plants characteristic of these plains is not small, they are not, as a rule, numerous in any one locality, and the general appearance is one of aridity. A dry, crumbling soil, often deeply stained by iron-oxide, is plentifully exposed; and blocks of basic volcanic rocks in all stages of disintegration are strewn over the surface in many localities. Rivers, fed by the heavy rainfall of the forested slopes of the mountains, traverse these regions, but, as a rule, receive no tributaries; and the districts have, in fact, well earned the name given to them by the natives of the “talasinga,” or sun-burnt, lands.