Valuable Plants of Fiji

By H. B. R. Parham

ATTENTION once being aroused as to the variety of aromatic perfumes that may be extracted from the floral and sylvan growth of the Vei Kau, one is amazed to find what an endless pro cession of plant names there is to extol, for their aromatic essences. Most of them still remain unheralded and un sung.

As once the cry went forth, “there is yet corn in Egypt,” so most assuredly the very bush-birds might proclaim in true song that “there are yet stores of spicy fragrance to be exploited in the depths of Fijian forest glades, or beside the devious creeks running dreamily to the sea.”

For instance, consider the charm of the inflorescence of the noble Vutu (Bar ringtonia edulis) of the order Myrtaceae.

Anyone who has been in a boat on a river in Vanua Levu in the early morn ing, and has seen the dainty Vutu blos soms floating on placid waters will cer tainly agree with the poet that such “things of beauty are a joy forever.” Hav ing smelt the exquisite scent of this white and pink flower, you will confess that such delicately spiced blossoms are eminently adapted to the making of per fumery.

They look, indeed, more like tassels of dainty floss-silk from some fairy work

basket, than flowers from a mere tree.

But take one in your hand, and inhale the delicious, piquant odour, and you will agree that the pretty thing reminds you of carnation flowers in some beautiful pleasance, and that if its seductive per fume could be extracted it would capti vate at once all lovers of dainty essences.

Redolent of all the charm of moonlight nights in fair Fiji, the blossom should give its sweetness to a wonderful poudre d’amour, for the “beauty outfits” of fair women.

There is, too, a poetical glamour about the Vutu; and a very pretty conceit in one of its native names, less often known to the vulagi (foreigner). Among them selves they call the fallen Vutu flowers, “the tears of the night.” They do not, however, explain whether the tears are shed by the tree when it has to part with one after another of the fair flowers it has brought to life and perfection upon its wide-spread branches, or whether the tears are those of the drift ing blossoms, as like rosy-flushed Naiads they go floating on the bosom of the river, and so away from the safety of home. Or perhaps it represents the sil ent weeping of the night itself, as each flower drops to punctuate the flight of time till dawn when these charming visitants fade or float away. ~lt is needless to trace further a per fectly charming proof that there was poetry in the Fijian natives before they were taught to mouth foreign ditties and exchange poetry for anthologies!

The Bele be'e (Badusa corymifera),

belonging to the Rubiaceae order, is an other charming shrub-like tree with pretty little flowers, glossy green leaves, and mauve stamens, tipped with yellow.

The flowers, which come out in March, have a very pleasant scent, which may be described as resembling the fragrance of ripe blackberries.

The Kai Viti at times use the Bele bele for perfuming their coconut oil, and it is certainly a pleasant variant from such strong essences as are obtained from usi and marcouvu (cinnamon).

An ancient Fijian woman, learned in all such old-time traditions, says that the Bele bele shrub grows at Naicobocobo, and is, therefore, most certainly a tevora (devil) tree. Since it grows at the “spirits’ jumping-off place,” it is, of course, found again in the spirit world, growing side by side with the ghostly Tarawau, the planting of which is the most important work of a disembodied spirit, according to old-time belief.

There are two other shrubs called Bele bele, but these are not so perfumed and belong to quite different plant-families.