The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-18
UNKNOWN FLORA
Of THE ISLANDS
FIELD THAT SHOULD PROVE FAS-
CINATING FOR ENTHUSIASTIC
BOTANISTS-LIT

Much interest in the fora of our new
island possessions is developing. In New
YArk it seems nkely TO bear important
educational fruit in connection with
the new botanical garuens and mu-
scum recently opened in Bronx Park.
Directors of the Gardens some time ago
sent Percy Wilson, member of their
staff, to Porto IIco, with Professor
Evans, to investigate certain phases
of flora to be found in a stretch of
gardens some time ago sent Percy VIII
son, stay on the island was altogether
too limited for any exhaustive collect
ing, he did succeed in getting a few
fine palms and several examples Of or
chids to the institution.
But the question arises whether this
sufllces. The American people are
ClamOring to know something more OF
the flora of the Philippines, Guam, Ha-
wall and Porto Rico.
With the possible exception of Ha-
wall there has been very little serious
attempt at investigation and cassih-
cation of the flora of our new possess
sions. Very Little literature is avail
able to the American student of today
covering these fields, and for those
confined to the English language there
Is practically no printed information
whatever.
In the case of the Philippines the
botanical literature is extremely mea-
ger, being limited to a publication
bearing The time La Flora de Filipi-
no." a work printed in Spanish by the
Jesuit Fathers resident in the islands.
But it is not in no sense accepted as
an authority by accredited botanists,
they saying that the text shows no
evidences of individual research or
close observation of the plants desCrib-
ed.
This lack of literature and informa-
ton is in great part explained by the
antagonis tic attitude of The Spaniards
to exploration of the interior by scien-
I lists of countries other than their
own. They guarded the islands jea-
lousy from alien intrusion, looking
with suspicion upon all requests for
exploring privileges and scientific re-
search, putting annoying obstacles III
the way of all who sought to enter the
interior. Being languid and Indifferent
themselves, they troubled but little
about the natural treasures that sur
rounded them.
But in the two years of American
occupation of the Philippines enough
has been learned CT the natural history
of the islands to warrant the predic-
ton that they present an illimitable
field for collection.
Writing of them in this connection,
an educated native, who knows his
country we'll, says that these rich and
M ltitudinous islands, seated in the
midst of a tropical sea, form in real
ity a botanst's paradise, a region in
which an ardent naturalist might
browse for years, and still have new
treasures left TO find"
And the same sentiment echoes
]
turning sojourners in the islands. The
wife of an American army officer sta
| toned there, on recent visit to the
| United states, says that while jour
| neying through the forests in the ISL
ands, with their vast variety of plant
! life the trees in many cases present
! ing a Kaleidoscope riot of color from
! the masses of orchids hanging from
trunks and limbs, some odd and unique
! in appearance, many unknown to
science.
Institutions in other countries are
| taking cognizance of the field here pre-
| scented under new conditions, notably
! the Kew Gardens of England, which
already have a representative collect
| ing in the islands.
| But enough riffs of knowledge have
! broken through the dense cloud of pub
| lie ignorance on the subject of our new
possessions to have whetted the appe-
tite for fuller information. SO it looks
very much as if, providing there be
no appropriation at hand to carry out
this work of collecting floral specimens
there, we shall have to depend upon
private gifts or endowments.
Even H. this be So the project should
certainly appeal to those interested in
the cause Of general education (and
that the study of botany is a usef'-'
and refining one no one 4, \ question:
and having a patriotic pride in the adj
vancement of our public museums and
kindred institutions in Philadelphia, as
we'll as in New York and elsewhere
Philadelphia Ledger.