papaya, and hau. Some other large unidentified trees are used by the natives in constructing boats and furniture.
The lily family is represented by cardinal-flowered cannas, with reddish-hued leaves, a spider lily, and another low growing lily―having leaves grey-green in color above and purple-red below. All three species grow on Mogmog island.
The large-leaved taro plant, from which Hawaiian poi is made, is cultivated by the natives, and also grows on almost every island of the atoll, Leaves, stems, and rootstock contain tiny, sharp acid crystals, which can be extremely painful to the tongue if eaten raw. For this reason, the crystals are always dissolved by boiling the tuber for several minutes before it is eaten.
Cultivated plants of known recent introduction are sugarcane, sweet corn, popcorn, radishes, turnips, beans, squash, muskmelon, watermelon, potatoes, tomatoes, nasturtiums, marigolds, and zinnias.
Like the plant life at Ulithi, the fauna is also "second hand," various species arriving here by migration―as in the case of birds―or by accidental or intentional introduction by man—as in the case of the large brown rats, lizards, and dogs.
The waters around the atoll abound with marine animals, and the reefs are alive with interesting and beautiful creatures.
Perhaps the most colorful group are the many species of coral whose skeletons form extensive reefs inside and out-
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