SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 0 NUMBER 23 
Flora of the Marquesas, 
1 : Ericaceae-Convolvulacae 
Murie-Helenee Sachet 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS 
City of Washington 
1975 
ABSTRACT 
Sachet, Marie-Helene. Flora of the Marquesas, 1 : Ericaceae-Convolvulaceae. 
Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, number 23, 34 pages, 1 figure, 1975.-This 
is the first installment of a vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands (French 
Polynesia). It contains floristic taxonomic treatments, keys, synonymy, descrip- 
tions, distribution, ethnobotany including uses and vernacular names, citations 
of geographic records, and herbarium specimens of the families Ericaceae, 
Epacridaceae, Myrsinaceae, Primulaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Sapotaceae, Oleaceae, 
Loganiaceae, Gentianaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, and Convolvulaceae. 
A brief introduction outlines the history of the botany of the Marquesas, the 
materials on which the flora is based, problems in interpreting and using some 
of the collections, the climatic and geographic setting of the Marquesan Archi- 
pelago, and acknowledgments. Other families will follow in future installments 
as they are completed. 
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number o? initial copies and is recorded 
in the Institution?s annual report, Smithsonian Year. SI PRESS NUMBER 5265. SERIES COVER 
DESIGN: Leaf clearing from the katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japoizicurn Siebold and Zuccarini. 
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 
Sachet, Marie-Helene 
Flora of the Marquesas. 
(Smithsonian contributions to botany; no. 23) 
Bibliography: p. 
Supt. of Doc. no.: SI 1.2923 
CONTENTS: 1. Ericaceae-Convolvulaceae. 
1. Botany-Marquesas Islands. 
tributions to botany; no. 23. 
QK1 .S2747 no.23, etc. [QK473.M35] 581?.08s [581.9?96?31] 74-30425 
I. Title. 11. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian con- 
Contents 
Page 
Introduction ................................................. 1 
Ericaceae .............................................. 
Epacridaceae . . ....................................... 6 
Myrsinaceae ........................................... 
Primulaceae ........................................ 
Sapotaceae ................................................. 13 
Oleaceae .......................................... 14 
Loganiaceae ......................................... 17 
Gentianaceae ............................................... 18 
Apocynaceae ................................................ 19 
Asclepiadaceae ........................................... 
Convolvulaceae ................................................ 27 
Literature Cited ............................................ 34 
Plumbaginaceae .......................................... 12 
... 
111 
I 
I HATUTAS ISLAND 
' vartuha 
* 
E IAO 
FRENCH POLYKJESIA 
I 
NUKUHIVA I 
FATKHUKU 
THE 
MARUSAS 
ISLANDS 
Flora of the Marquesas, 
I : Ericaceae-Convolvulacae 
Marie-Helene Sachet 
Introduction 
The Marquesas (7?50?-10035?S, 138?25?-140050?W) 
are one of the eastern peripheral island groups in 
the Pacific Polynesian Triangle. The other major 
high island archipelago on the eastern edge of the 
island-strewn central Pacific, Hawaii, has one of the 
most interesting and remarkable floras in the world. 
It has received an enormous amount of attention 
and, while not yet fully known, is one of the best 
documented tropical floras. The Marquesas were 
discovered by Europeans almost 200 years earlier 
than Hawaii (or Tahiti), but their flora has re- 
mained one of the more inadequately studied of 
insular floras. 
The Marquesas are less isolated than Hawaii and 
are only about one-third as high in elevation. Their 
area is less than 10 percent that of the Hawaiian 
group. The flora is smaller and the degree of en- 
demism less. How much smaller and how much 
less than the Hawaiian 95 percent endemic is not 
known. The total land area is only about 1275 km2, 
little larger in aggregate than the islands of Tahiti 
and Moorea together. Distances are approximately 
750 nautical miles to Tahiti, about 1900 to Hawaii, 
and 3000 to the Galapagos Islands. 
Like the Hawaiian and Society islands, the Mar- 
quesas are high volcanic islands. Unlike the others, 
especially Tahiti, they lack a coastal plain and 
almost completely lack coral reefs. Lowland areas 
occur only at the mouths of rivers. The islands rise 
abruptly from the ocean in dark steep forbidding 
Marie-Helene, Department of Botany, National Mu- 
seum of Nattcral History, Smithsonian Instituiion, Washing. 
ton, D.C. 20560. 
cliffs with scatterei. shrubs anc vines clinging here 
and there. The two largest islands are also the 
highest, Nukuhiva (1185 m) and Hivaoa (1260 m). 
The volcanic masses soar to narrow steep crests, 
which form the backbones of the islands. The slopes 
below these long ridges are often eroded into 
cirques surrounded by precipitous slopes and cliffs, 
and narrowing downward into canyon-like valleys. 
After a break in slope, the gentler relief of some 
of the interfluves, occasionally broad and rather 
flat-topped, gives the impression of sloping, dis- 
sected plateaus ending abruptly at the coast with 
a sudden drop. Elsewhere, sharp and narrow ridges 
tumble seaward. Nukuhiva has a broad elevated 
interior basin with boggy areas, called the Tovii, 
which has certainly not been completely explored 
for plants. The island of Uapou is crowned with 
tall spires of phonolitic trachyte. 
There are small steep desert islands in the group 
and a sand islet on a coral bank, of which very 
little is known. 
The climate of the region is tropical oceanic, 
constantly warm, with high atmospheric humidity, 
local sporadic rain showers, and heavy orographic 
rainfall where the mountainous islands interfere 
with the prevailing easterly trade winds. However, 
the simple pattern of windward-leeward trade-wind 
effect in the Marquesas is very much complicated 
by the dissected topography and other factors. The 
?backbones? of the islands are usually bathed in 
mists and crowned with very mossy ?cloudforest.? 
But on low lying areas, the trade winds exert a 
desiccating effect. The lower uninhabited islands, 
the ?desert? islands, appear quite arid and there 
are years of prolonged drought. On the western 
1 
2 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
?plateaus? of Nukuhiva and Hivaoa stretch arid 
areas, with a vegetation of grasses and scattered 
woody plants, including very interesting species, 
such as sandalwood and Cordia lutea, a shrub other- 
wise known from dry Ecuador, Chile, and the 
Galapagos Islands. The deep valleys contain 
streams, many of which are frequently dry; and the 
high waterfalls tumbling down the cliffs of the 
higher cirques often disappear. 
In Atuona, on Hivaoa, masses of cool air may 
flow down the slopes at night and chill the village 
to a surprising degree. The overall picture is that, 
with a relatively uniform temperature and atmos- 
pheric humidity, there is great and quite unpre- 
dictable variation in rainfall (except perhaps for 
the crests) and a mosaic of local climates. The 
pattern is much less orderly and predictable than 
on Tahiti, for instance. 
Hurricanes are unknown in the Marquesas, but 
tsunamis of the South Pacific have often caused 
extensive flooding of the small alluvial plains at the 
valley mouths, where the modern villages are usu- 
ally located, creating extensive destruction and loss 
of life and crops. 
A more detailed description of the geography 
and vegetation will be omitted at this time, because 
little information has become available since the 
work of Adamson (based in part on LeBronnec?s 
field work), Aubert de la Rue (I958), Decker 
(1970), and others. Sachet and Fosberg (1955, 1971) 
include references on Marquesan vegetation. More 
field work is in progress or planned, and it should 
provide much additional material for a later de- 
tailed account of Marquesan nature. The flora is 
also receiving renewed attention, and later parts of 
this series will surely reflect this welcome interest 
in the Marquesas. 
The Marquesan flora was included in the French 
Polynesian flora of Drake del Castillo (1892), as 
well as in his partially completed Illustrated Flora 
of the Pacific Islands (1886-1892), both of which 
were based on what casual collections were avail- 
able to the author. Forest B. H. and Elizabeth D. 
IV. Brown spent 17 months in the Marquesas on 
the Bayard Dominick Expedition in 1921-1922 
(Brown, 1931:3-9). With more experience and bet- 
ter support in the field, they could have, in the 
amount of time available, gathered materials for a 
flora adequate for reasonable phytogeographic 
statistical comparison, at least if the accumulated 
material in the Paris herbarium had been included. 
While the Browns made reasonably good collec- 
tions of the lowland flora on several of the larger 
islands, some of the smaller islands and most of the 
high mountains on the larger ones were very inade- 
quately covered. Relatively small collections made 
since have yielded some remarkable finds and a 
high percentage of novelties (Fosberg, 1939; Fos- 
berg and Sachet, 1966, 1975). 
F. Brown?s Flora of Southeastern Polynesia 
(1935) is essentially a report on the plants collected 
on the Bayard Dominick Expedition by the Browns, 
on the Whitney Expedition by Quayle, Jones, and 
R. Beck, and by the Pacific Entomological Survey. 
Earlier collections not represented in the Bernice P. 
Bishop Museum herbarium were not included, 
except as they may have been recorded by Drake 
del Castillo. In addition, the work suffers from 
erratic writing and non-existent editing. There are 
glaring errors in identifications; under some species, 
full descriptions and specimen citations are in- 
cluded, elsewhere they are casual or partial, or 
absent altogether. Nevertheless, up to now, this 
work has remained the only modern flora available 
for French Polynesia, and has been very useful to 
many. 
Martin L. Grant had accumulated in catalog 
form a tremendous amount of data on French 
Polynesia, centered on the Society Islands to be 
sure, but including the Marquesas as well, and his 
files are available to us. None of his work was 
published during his life-time and only a few 
families have recently been treated in print for the 
Society Islands (Grant, Fosberg, and Smith, 1974). 
The inadequacy of F. Brown?s work, added to 
the fact that a number of collections have been 
made during the last 40 years, make a new flora of 
the Marquesas an important desideratum, even 
though the extensive additional field work needed 
has not yet been possible. 
The series of papers initiated by the present one 
is planned to fill, to some extent, this gap in mod- 
ern knowledge of Polynesian floras. It is based on 
materials studied in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, 
the University of California at Berkeley, the New 
York Botanical Garden (especially the plants of 
J. G. Chapin), the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and 
on my own collections and those of Bryce G. 
Decker, to be deposited in the U.S. National 
Herbarium, on duplicates received by this herba- 
NUMBER 23 3 
rium from George W. Gillett, and on small but 
choice collections received for identification from 
Francis Hall6 and Henri Lavondles. Of special 
importance are the historical collections examined 
in the Laboratoire de Phanerogamie, Museum Na- 
tional d?Histoire Naturelle, Paris; at the British 
Museum (Natural History), and Kew. These 18th 
and 19th century collections from the Marquesas 
(and from other Pacific island groups) have often 
been ignored in early 20th century work on the 
Pacific floras, as in F. Brown?s work on southeastern 
Polynesia. In Paris, especially, lack of staff and 
emphasis on other parts of the world have resulted 
in such specimens not being readily available for 
study, especially to workers in Honolulu and other 
American centers who could not easily travel to 
European institutiox Because I have been able to 
spend some time in Europe, though not nearly 
enough as yet, the present flora suffers less from 
inadequate attention to these historical collections. 
Starting with the Forsters on Captain Cook?s 
second voyage in 1774, a number of European 
visitors, many of them French Navy surgeons or 
pharmacists, gathered plants in the Marquesas, on 
which the earlier described species were based, as 
were Drake del Castillo?s treatments. Prominent 
among these were Bennett in 1835, Hinds and 
Barclay in 1840, Dupetit-Thouars in 1838 and 
1842, Hombron and Le Guillou in 1836, LeBatard 
in 1844, Mercier in 1847, Jardin in 1854-1855, 
Lenormand in 1857, and Savatier in 1877. I have 
not seen the collections made by Langsdorff in 1804 
during the Russian around-the-world expedition 
under Krusenstern. 
Unfortunately, as is the case with so many early 
collectors? notations, the herbarium labels are often 
deficient or difficult to decipher or interpret. The 
collections were separated early and labeled by the 
owners of large private herbaria, so that duplicates 
of a collection may bear different labels. Dates 
given are often those of receipt in the herbarium 
rather than that of actual gathering. 
The precision needed to satisfy modern require- 
ments for typification of species is not aIways easy 
to achieve. I hope that in this respect the present 
flora may make a substantial contribution. 
The 20th century specimens present less prob- 
lems than the earlier ones and are usually num- 
bered consecutively and clearly labeled and dated, 
although some include very little data. One of the 
most important collections, however, that of the 
Pacific Entomological Survey, offers complications. 
I worked on it in 1963 in Atuona and have studied 
the plants in other herbaria since then, so I will 
describe its history in some detail. 
The Pacific Entomological Survey, under the 
aegis of the Bishop Museum, sponsored insect 
collecting expeditions in various Pacific Island 
groups, the most important such project being that 
in the Marquesas, which lasted from January 1929 
to January 1932. A summary of this work, as well 
as a description of the archipelago, is given by 
A. M. Adamson (1936), one of the two entomolo- 
gists of the party. The director of the party was 
E. P. Mumford, and together they stayed in the 
Marquesas until April 1930. In addition to insects 
and other small invertebrates, host plants were 
collected, mostly by Adamson and the local assist- 
ants, the principal one of whom was the French- 
man G. LeBronnec (Sachet, 1966). Together, 
Adamson and LeBronnec collected over 600 num- 
bers and, after the departure of the entomologists, 
LeBronnec and the other assistants continued to 
gather insects and plants. The main collection was 
sent to the eminent botanist, E. D. Merrill, then 
Consulting Botanist for the Bishop Museum. In 
record time, he sent back to the Marquesas lists 
of preliminary identifications from Berkeley and 
later New York. The main collection was then 
distributed by Merrill. Some confusion arose at 
that point: All the specimens carried Bishop Mu- 
seum field labels with the heading ?Pacific Ento- 
mological Survey? and laboriously typed in the 
Marquesas in multiple copies. The actual collectors 
were not mentioned. In the Bishop Museum, where 
the main set is deposited, herbarium labels were 
prepared that include some of the data from the 
field labels and cite the collectors as Mumford and 
Adamson, as in Merrill?s lists of identifications. An 
important set remained in Berkeley, with herba- 
rium labels prepared by Merrill. the collectors 
being cited as Mumford and Adamson, and little or 
no data included from the field labels, which there- 
fore provide essential data when mounted on the 
sheets. The same is true of the partial set sent 
from Berkeley to the New York Botanical Garden, 
and of the plants received later in New York. 
However, some Berkeley duplicates and most New 
York ones are labeled ?Adamson and Mumford.? 
There are small numbers of the Pacific Entomo- 
4 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
logical Survey plants in other herbaria; and the 
partial set retained by LeBronnec (unlabeled, ex- 
cept for copies of the field labels) is now in my 
hands for study and will eventually be turned over 
to the herbarium in Paris, or at least that part of 
it that has not suffered too much from insect dam- 
age and other vicissitudes. 
With his preliminary lists, Merrill sent advice 
on improving the collections and requests for addi- 
tional material of sterile or inadequate specimens. 
After the departure of the entomologists, LeBron- 
nec attempted to recollect the desired material, and 
numbered his collections ?Ex 2? meaning extra 
material of no. 2. Starting in October 1930, he 
tried to find the same species again and, on the 
whole, succeeded remarkably well. Merrill did not 
see these collections, and in the Bishop Museum 
they were labeled ?Pacific Entomological Survey.? 
There are other complications which need not be 
detailed here, but which have led me to decide 
that this major Marquesan collection should be 
cited in a uniform way, especially in a flora. As 
on the field labels, the collectors will be mentioned 
as ?PES? (Pacific Entomological Survey), followed 
in parentheses by ?M & A? (Mumford and Adam- 
son), or ?A & M? (Adamson and Mumford), or 
whatever collectors? names are on the herbarium 
labels. Since my return from the Marquesas in 
November 1963, I have taken every opportunity 
to examine specimens of this collection in Hono- 
lulu, Berkeley, and New York, and I now have a 
fairly complete catalog of it, which I plan to pub- 
lish at a later date. 
The synonymy given in most cases is not ex- 
haustive, but includes those names used in the 
literature on the Marquesas and neighboring 
islands, basionyms of accepted names, and what 
other names are useful in interpreting the usages 
adopted in earlier works. The references given in 
the synonymy, likewise, are only those needed to 
document the names listed and those that were 
sources of information incorporated into this paper. 
All references have been verified. Free use has been 
made of all published sources available, of the 
documents and manuscript notes accumulated over 
50 years of residence in the Marquesas by G. Le- 
Bronnec, as well as of data recorded on herbarium 
labels and in my own notes. 
Herbarium symbols accompanying citations are 
those of Index Herbariorun, edition V, 1964, with 
the addition of ?Fo,? indicating specimens still 
undistributed by F. R. Fosberg and myself and 
?LeB? for the LeBronnec set of the Pacific Entomo- 
logical Survey collection. Abbreviations used very 
frequently in synonymy are as follows: F. Brown, 
Flora (F. Brown, 1935); Drake, Flore (Drake del 
Castillo, 1892); and Drake, 111. (Drake del Castillo, 
Like other island groups in the Pacific, the 
Marquesas were ?discovered? on repeated occasions 
and given sets of Spanish, French, and English 
names in addition to their Marquesan names 
(Brigham, 1900: 184; Jourdain, 1970). The latter 
are rendered with a variety of spellings depending 
on the nationality of the person or his knowledge 
of Polynesian languages. In this series of papers 
on the flora, the simplest spellings of the Marque- 
san names (Figure 1) will be used throughout, with 
the name as listed on the label added only when 
there might be some confusion. Marquesan is one 
of the Polynesian languages and includes at least 
two principal dialects: the northwest dialect oE 
Nukuhiva and Uahuka and the southwest one of 
Hivaoa and Fatuiva. The main differences in pro- 
nunciation are that ?k? in the northwestern dialect 
becomes ?n? in the southeastern dialect (thus 
?Uahuka? is called ?Uahuna? in the southern 
islands), and ?h? (NW) is replaced by ?f? (SE). 
There are also some cases where quite different 
words are used for the same thing, on different 
islands, and this is true of plant names. All Mar- 
quesans know Tahitian to a certain extent, and 
many ornamentals or other plants brought from 
Tahiti often retain their Tahitian names. 
Of all the plant collectors who have worked in 
the Marquesas, few knew Marquesan. The only 
one who has some critical knowledge of Marquesan 
linguistics is Henri Lavondes, who collected a few 
plants in 1966. LeBronnec had good Marquesan 
informants, but he had to render the sounds as 
best he could, or following missionary usage. I will 
cite the names as given on herbarium labels or in 
books, with occasional comments when I know 
them to be in error. Altitudes are listed as they 
appear on the labels, with approximate metric 
conversions supplied in brackets where necessary. 
Such figures mean little except as very general 
orders of magnitude, as few botanists carry altime- 
ters and there are no topographic maps of the 
Marquesas. 
1886-1 892). 
NUMBER 23 5 
Indebtedness to the authorities and staffs of the 
institutions where I have worked and who have 
loaned specimens to me is gratefully acknowledged. 
I wish to expess my appreciation especially to the 
Bernice P. Bishop Museum, where I am always 
made to feel at home, as at the Botany Department 
of the University of Hawaii, and to my friends and 
colleagues in Paris, who, year after year, have 
helped me track down 18th and 19th century col- 
lections and documents. In the Marquesas, I salute 
the memory of a great born-naturalist, G. LeBron- 
nec, with whom I worked every day for many 
weeks, and acknowledge the good-natured help of 
his family. In Tahiti, the former Service de 
I?Agriculture, the French overseas research office, 
ORSTOM, the representatives of the Paris Mu- 
seum d?Histoire Naturelle and, of course, the 
governor?s office and other branches of the govern- 
ment, all gave me support, advice, and help during 
my visits. 
Outstanding has been the help of my dear 
friends Jean-Noel and Nora Maclet, who are still 
growing some rare Marquesan plants in their beau- 
tiful hillside gardens above Papeete and helping 
me in many different ways. 
In starting this series of papers on the Marque- 
san flora, I wish to recognize the help of Dr. F. R. 
Fosberg, whose assistant I was for many years and 
who introduced me to Pacific studies and taught 
me a great deal. Perhaps most important, as a 
senior colleague, he has always provided me with 
moral support and encouragement, as well as 
advice, when needed. 
EFUCACEAE 
Shrubs, subshrubs, herbs or rarely trees; leaves 
usually alternate, simple, exstipulate, usually more 
or less serrate or dentate; flowers bisexual, solitary 
or more usually in spikes, racemes or racemose 
panicles; calyx of 4-7, usually 5, variously connate 
sepals: corolla of the same number of petals, free 
or usually united, often urceolate; stamens twice 
the number of corolla lobes, rarely the same num- 
ber, usually free, filaments rarely more or less 
united, anthers often appendaged, cells opening by 
terminal pores or slits; pistil 1, ovary superior or 
inferior, cells 4-10, usually 5, placentation axile, 
ovules usually many, occasionally as few as 1 in a 
cell, style 1, often curved; fruit a capsule or berry; 
seeds usually small, and numerous, rarely few and 
larger. 
A large nearly cosmopolitan family. One genus 
in the Marquesas. 
Vaccinium L. 
Vacciniuin L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 166, 1754 [= 17531. 
Shrubs, dwarf-shrubs, rarely small trees; flowers 
usually axillary, solitary, or in small clusters; 
corolla typically urceolate, rarely campanulate or 
rotate, gamopetaious; anthers variously appendaged; 
ovary inferior, with many ovules; fruit a berry with 
many seeds, in many species edible. 
Taken in a broad sense, an almost cosmopolitan 
genus, especially in cool or mountainous regions. 
One species in the Marquesas. 
The genus Vaccinium is commonly represented 
in the higher regions of Polynesia, as well as in 
other Pacific islands. In southeast Polynesia, with 
the exception of V. rapae Skottsberg described as 
endemic in Rapa, all the island plants have com- 
monly been referred to Vaccinizim cereum (L.f.) 
Forster sensu lato, described from Tahiti. 
Vaccinium cereum (L.f.) Forster f. 
Vaccinium cereum (L.f.) Forster f., Prodr., 28, 1786.-Skotts- 
Andromeda cerea L.f., Suppl., 238, 1781. 
berg, Acta Hort. Gothob., 8:87, 91-97, 1933. 
Small shrub, branchlets and leaf-bases somewhat 
puberulent to glabrous; leaves oval to broadly 
obovate, up to 4 X 2.5 cm, very slightly to mark- 
edly shortly acuminate, margins minutely serrulate 
to subentire, blades stiff, reticulate-veined, petioles 
very short, thick; flowers on pedicels up to 8-10 
mm long, with one or two bractlets near base; calyx 
lobes ovate, 2-3 mm long; corolla white, ovoid- 
urceolate, to 1 cm long, with 5 ovate lobes; anthers 
with 2 subulate erect or divergent appendages; 
fruit purple-black, with many angular seeds. 
The type is from the Society Islands. 
Skottsberg (1933) made a detailed study of this 
species, in which he recognized two varieties from 
Tahiti with two forms each and one variety from 
Rarotonga, and he referred the Marquesan V. 
adenandrum to var. cereum f. eriostemon Skotts- 
berg. 
Forest Brown, on the basis of more material, 
6 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
regarded the Marquesan plant as V. cereum var. 
adenandrum, which is the disposition adopted here. 
Certain Marquesan specimens, in their sharply 
serrate leaf margins and pubescent stems resem- 
ble more var. cereum. Evidence is insufficient to 
tell if they constitute a separate population or are 
merely aberrant individuals. 
Vnccinium cereum var. adenandrum (Decaisne) 
F. Brown 
Vaccinium cereum var. adenandrum (Decaisne) F. Brown, 
Flora, 215, 1935.-Fosberg and Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. 
Bot., Zl:l, 1975. 
Vaccinium adenandrum Decaisne, Bot. Voy. Venus t.17, 1846; 
23, 1864. 
Vacciniurn cereus sensu Jardin, Mem. SOC. Sci. Nat. Cher- 
bourg, 5:296, 313, 1857. 
Vaccinium cereum sensu Drake, Ill., 223, 1886 [1892]; Flore, 
115, 1892 [pro parte]. 
Vaccinium cereum var. cereum f. eriosternon Skottsberg, Acta 
Hort. Gothob., 8:92-93, 1933 [pro parte]. 
Stems usually glabrous; leaves usually obscurely 
serrulate, broadly elliptic to broadly oblong or 
obovate; flowers glabrous, filaments prominently 
pilose. 
Type from the Marquesas. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-without locality, probably 
from the Marquesas, s.col1. no. 42 bis (US), the 
label says ?toatoa,? which is the Marquesan namk 
cited by Decaisne, so this sheet may be part of the 
type of var. adenandrum. 
Marquesas Islands: M. Henry no. 19 (P); Herbier S.F.I.M. 
168 (P). 
Nukuhiva I.: Le Batard in 1844 (P, US); ?point culminant 
des montagnes,? AIercier s.n. (P); E. Jardin in 1855 NO. I01 
(P); 3500 ft [1100-1200 m], SeaEe s.n. (BISH); Tovii, Halle 
2079 (US, P, MPU); Tovii, 1000 m, F. Brown 496A (BISH), 
800111, Quayle 1222 (BISH); To?oki?i, Taupua?o?oa, 800 m, 
Decker 2013 (US, Fo, UC); Mt. Tapuaooa, 2 km from 
Tapuaooa shelter, 3 km W of Mt. Ooumu, Gillett 2158 (US, 
BISH); Tapuaooa, forest in cloud zone, 3100 ft [900-1000 m] 
PES (as A 6 M} 577 (NY sheet only). 
Uahuka I.: 500 m? Quayle I760 (BISH); 800 m? Quayle 
1834 (BISH). 
Uapou I.: Mt. Tekahoipu, 800 m, Quayle 1153 (BISH) 
(erroneously cited by F. Brown as from Fatuiva). 
Hivaoa I.: Feani, 900 m, F. Brown 972 (BISH); 3700 ft, 
[IIOO-1200 m], CEarke HOS (US); Atuona-Feani Trail, just be- 
low crest of ridge, 1200 m, Sachet and Decker 1140 (US, Fo, P, 
BISH); NE slopes of Mt. Temetiu, 700 m, PES (M 6 A) 27 
(BISH, UC, LeB); N side of Mt. Temetiu, 1100 m, PES (Af 6 
A) I45 (BISH, LeB), Atuona, mountain side, 700 m, PES 
Ex27 (BISH); Vaina, forest,, 700 m, PES (M & A) 429 (BISH, 
NY (as A 6. M), LeB). 
Tahuata I.: Halle 2177 (US, P, MPU). 
Fatuiva I.: Omoa Valley, 800 m, F. Brown 1082 (BISH). 
ETHNOB0TANY.-Jardin (101) gives the name 
?heua (Kanac)? from Nukuhiva, ?Kanac? meaning 
here Marquesan (heua usually applies to Metro- 
sideros sp. in Nukuhiva, and may have been re- 
corded in error for Vaccinium). Decaisne gave the 
name toatoa, which is probably from the southern 
Marquesas. F. Brown (Flora) cited hueki from 
Nukuhiva, and puatoatoa from Fatuiva, and said 
the fruits are eaten in times of famine. LeBronnec 
(MS) tried to identify ?toatoa? with the help of 
old Marquesans, whom he considered to be relia- 
ble informants. They could only report that they 
had heard it said that it was a plant of high 
regions, the seed of which was used in medicine. 
EPACRIDACE AE 
Shrubs or small trees; leaves alternate or spiral, 
usually stiff, small, veins subparallel, exstipulate; 
flowers usually bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicels 
often bracteate; calyx 4-6 lobed, persistent; corolla 
gamopetalous, 4-6 (usually 5) lobed, aestivation 
imbricate or valvate; stamens same number and 
alternate with lobes, attached on corolla or basally, 
often alternating with tufts of hair or glands, 
anthers 1-celled, dehiscing longitudinally; pistil 1, 
ovary superior, 1-10 celled, placentation axile, 
ovules 1 to many in a cell, style 1, stigma capitate; 
fruit a capsule or drupe. 
Mainly Australasian, with scattered outliers in 
Polynesia, Micronesia, and Malesia. One genus in 
Polynesia. 
Styphelia J. E. Smith 
Styphelia J. E. Smith, Spec. Bot. New Holland, 45, 1795. 
Cyathodes Labillardiere, Novae Holland. PI. Sp., 57, 1804-06 
[1805]. 
Ericoid shrubs; leaves rather crowded, small, 
stiff, entire; flowers axillary, pedicels with imbri- 
cate bracts; corolla short, tubular, lobes recurved 
or reflexed at least in age; fruit a rather mealy 
drupe. 
A genus of many species, mostly Australian, some 
Melanesian, a \cry few Polynesian, one Microne- 
NUhlBER 23 
7 
sian. One variety of a Hawaiian species in the 
Marquesas. 
Styphelia tameiameiae (Chamisso & Schlechtendal) 
F. v. Mueller 
Styphelia taneiameiae (Chamisso & Schlechtendal) F. v. hluel- 
Cyathodes tarneiatneiae Chamisso & Schlechtendal, Linnaea, 
ler, Fragmenta, 6;:55, 1867. 
1:539, 1826. 
Leaves patent, broadly to narrowly elliptic, stiff, 
up to 1 cm long, dull green above, whitish with 
darker veins beneath, these forked once or Lwice 
and somewhat spreading distally; corolla white, 3 
mm long, lobes triangular, pilose within, more or 
less hooked at apex; fruit subglobose to depressed 
globose white to purplish on one side or maroon. 
A common Hawaiian species with several forms 
or varieties in southeastern Polynesia. In Hawaii 
the species occurs over a great altitudinal range 
and exhibits a perplexing array of variations that 
have yet to be elucidated. In the Marquesas, one 
variety very close to, but distinguishable from, the 
Hawaiian ones, is found at higher elevations on 
Nukuhiva. 
Styphelia tameiameiae var. marquesemis F. Brown 
Styphelia tameiameiae var. marquesensis F. Brown, Flora, 
218, 1935. 
Styphelia tameiameiae var. tameiameiae sensu Sleumer, 
Blumea, 12:162, 1963. 
Styphelia tameiameiae f. marquesensis (F. Brown) Grant, 
Fosberg, and Smith, Smithsonian Contr. Bot., 17:lO-11, 
1974. 
Twigs densely short pubescent or puberulent; 
leaves oblongelliptic 9-15 X 2-3 mm, leaf veins 
usually less forked than in var. tameiameiae, outer 
ones forked one or more times, inner 1-3 quite 
parallel, some slightly forked once, rarely more 
times, bracts more strongly ciliate; flowers with 
corolla-lobes triangular-lanceolate, glabrous within; 
noticeably hooked; fruits usually red (e.g., Decker 
379, Brown 533), rarely white to rose (Decker 
2014). 
In most respects within the range of variation of 
the Hawaiian forms, but with consistently long 
narrow leaves, narrower glabrous, hooked corolla 
lobes. Sleumer (1963: 162), however, could not find 
?any constant character to separate the Marquesas 
specimens from the Hawaiian forms.? 
In spite of Brown?s rather confusing publication 
of this ?form Marquesensis F. Brown, new variety,? 
it seems best cited as var. marquesensis F. Brown. 
Grant (Grant, Fosberg, and Smith, 1974:lO) dis- 
cussed this plant but found no distinguishing char- 
acters, so did not separate it from s. tameiameiae. 
Found only on Nukuhiva, at high altitudes, 
locally common in scattered localities. Fruit re- 
ported (Brown 533) to be eaten by ?cuckoo,? prob- 
ably the ?kuku,? or Marquesan fruit pigeon. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.--Marquesas Islands: s.1. Heniy 5 (P), 
Heniy in 1919 (P). 
Nukuhiba I.: Tovii, 900 m, Brown 533A (BISH, holotype), 
533 (BISH, isotype), 533B (BISH, isotjpe), Quayle (cited as 
Quarks by Sleumer) 1237 (BISH), Halle 2080 (US). Tovii, 
?hauts plateaux, rare,? Henry 41 (P); Toovii, below Mt. 
Ouumu, 3200 ft. [IOOO-1100 m], Decker 379 (US, BISH), 
Taupua?o?oa, 800 m, Decker 2014 (US, P, BISH, Fo), 5 km 
SW of Tapuaooa shelter, 850 m, Gilleft 2191 (US, BISH). 
Tunoapahuhitone ridge, 3200 ft. [IOOO-1100 m], Hambuechen 
(Decker?s) 308 (US, BISH). Maauu, 3000 ft. [900-1000 m], 
PES 560 (NY(as A c!v M), LeB). 
ETHNoBoTANY.-Marquesan names: puhatikiei 
(PES 560), ohopukei (F. Brown, 1935). 
MYRSINACEAE 
Vines, shrubs, and trees, often with dark glands, 
leaves simple, unlobed, usually alternate, exstipu- 
late; flowers unisexual or bisexual, actinomorphic, 
solitary, in axillary fascicles, terminal or axillary 
cymes, racemes or panicles; sepals 4-6, separate or 
united at base, often reddish or black-punctate, 
persistent; corolla gamopetalous, tube usually very 
short, lobes 4-6, valvate or imbricate; stamens 
usually attached to the corolla, opposite the lobes, 
rarely connate, anthers 2-celled; pistil 1, ovary 
superior, rarely inferior, locules 1 or 4-6, ovules 
1 to many, placentation free-central or axile, pla- 
centas complex, surrounding ovules; fruit fleshy, 
baccate or usually drupaceous, with 1 to few seeds. 
Pantropical, with a few temperate zone species. 
One genus with several Marquesan species. 
Until recently, only F. Brown (1935:219) had 
recognized the occurrence of this family in the 
Marquesas, and he cited under Rapanea myricifolia 
f. marquesensis all the material available to him. 
R. myricifolia Gray, however, does not occur in the 
Marquesas. 
8 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
Myrsine L. 
Myrsine L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 90, 1754 [=1753]. 
Rapanea Aublet, Hist. P1. Guiane, 1:121, 1775. 
Small trees; leaves usually entire, rarely denticu- 
late, sessile to short-petiolate, usually coriaceous or 
subcoriaceous, obscurely or clearly pinnately 
nerved, with or without a marginal nerve; flowers 
dioecious, axillary, solitary or in fascicles, usually 
borne below the leaves, pedicellate to subsessile, 
those of the 2 sexes similar except that the non- 
functional parts are smaller; calyx united at ex- 
treme base, sepals scale-like; corolla rotate, tube 
very short, lobes longer than tube, imbricate; 
stamens with anthers longer than filaments: pistil 
with superior ovary, 1-celled, ovule attached bas- 
ally, style very short, erect, stigma peltate, sugar- 
loaf-shaped or ligulate; fruit a globose drupe with 
thin flesh, stone globose, with one seed. 
Pantropical genus, usually found in montane 
situations, of which most species have been called 
Rapanea. The differences between Myrsine and 
Rapanea are in shape of leaf, distribution on the 
stem, margin denticulate vs. entire, and ill-defined 
stigma differences. Until something more substan- 
tial is found, it seems best to recognize only one 
genus in this relationship. The Marquesan plants 
have all been previously referred to Myrsine (or 
Rapanea) myricifolia, which is a different Fijian 
species. 
Study of recent collections led to the separation 
of several new species (Fosberg and Sachet, 1975). 
Because this is such a difficult group the original 
descriptions of the species are cited here in full. 
More collecting is very much needed (cf. Grant, 
Fosberg, and Smith, 1974:14). 
Key to Marquesan Species of Myrsine 
1. Leaves sessile, stiff -coriaceous, base cordate ................................................. M. tahuatensis 
1. Leaves petiolate (petiole sometimes very short) ................................................................... 2 
2. Leaves acuminate, less than 4.5 cm long, twigs very slender .................... M. gracilissima 
2. Leaves obtuse, rounded or acutish ........................................................................ 3 
3. 
3. Petioles thick, over 2 mm wide ........................................................................................ 4 
4. Pedicels 2-3 mm long, leaves usually over 13 cm long, submarginal vein undulating 
and distinct .................................................................... M. nukuhivensis 
4. Flowers and fruits subsessile, leaves usually less than 13 cm long, submarginal vein 
obscure ................................................................ 
Petioles slender, less than 2 mm wide. ..................................... M. odmnsonii 
Myrsine adamsonii Fosberg & Sachet 
Myrsine adamsonii Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. 
Bot., 21:4, 1975. 
Rapanea myricifolia f. marquesensis, F. Brown, Flora, 219, 
1935 [pro parte]. 
Rather slender shrub 34 m tall, glabrous, 
branchlets about 3 mm thick, cataphylls tightly 
wrapped around terminal buds, which are stoutly 
subulate, 4-5 mm long, leaves not especially 
crowded, blades broadly elliptic, rather thin, up to 
10 X 4.5 cm, apex bluntly acute to obtusish, both 
surfaces obscurely but rather densely papillate- 
punctate, venation not prominent but distinct, 
main veins 16-20 on a side, variously spaced, rather 
widely divergent from a slender midrib, neither 
precisely parallel nor opposite, one or two fainter 
and shorter ones in most intervals, main ones 
anastomosing about 3 mm from margin to form a 
somewhat undulating submarginal vein, network 
obscure, base acutish, slightly decurrent into a 
slender curved petiole 8-13 mm long; persisting 
dried flower 4-merous; calyx lobed nearly to base, 
lobes ovate, obtuse or appearing acutish because 
infolded with 1-several prominent black spots dor- 
sally, margins thin, glandular, ciliolate, lobes 
spreading in fruit; corolla with very short tube, 
lobes elliptic, to about 2 mm long, granulate cilio- 
late; anthers narrowly ovate, blunt, apically papil- 
late; stigma narrowly pyramidal, fleshy, about 2 
mm long, 4-sulcate when dry; fruits on short thick 
pedicels about 1 mm long and thick, in clusters of 
3-5 on very short tubercle-like inflorescences about 
2-3 mm long, drupe globose or subglobose, up to 
5 X 4.5 mm, surface when dry rugulose with a 
mixture of obscure pale and dark dots, crowned 
NUMBER 23 
9 
with a broad disk-like very short style, and, until 
fairly mature, a subulate, sulcate, obliquely pro- 
jecting stigmatic beak about 1 mm or SO long, 
immature fruits with a subpersistent lanceolate- 
subulate, somewhat strap-shaped stigma over 1 mm 
long, caducous before complete maturity, fruit sur- 
face with somewhat obscure pale punctation. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: s.1. Quayk 1320 (BISH); 
900 m, Brown 496 (BISH); Tapuaooa, 3100 ft. [900-1000 m], 
fruit said to be purple, PES (M 6 A) 577 (BISH, LeB, NY 
(as A 6 M)); Toovii Valley, 800 m, near the Tapuaooa shel- 
ter, Gillett 2200 (BISH, US, type, P); Tovii, 1000 m, Herb. 
S.F.I.M. 107 (P). 
ETHNoBoTANY.-Nukuhiva name kautai (S.F.1.M. 
107). LeBronnec (MS) was never able to ascertain 
Marquesan names for this or any other species. 
Myrsine gracilissimu Fosberg & Sachet 
Myrsine gracilissirna Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. 
Bot., 21:6, 1975. 
Small, much-branched tree, foliage mostly at top, 
branchlets extremely slender, ultimate ones 1 mm 
or less thick, when older strongly lenticellate; cata- 
phylls lanceolate, closely wrapped around terminal 
buds; leaves loosely scattered on branchlets, blades 
broadly lanceolate, up to 4.5 X 1 cm, sharply acu- 
minate or even slightly caudate at apex, attenuate 
at base, margins somewhat revolute, crispate, vena- 
tion very obscure, on young leaves faintly impressed 
above, main veins 8-10, at a small angle to the 
slender prominent midrib, network scarcely visible, 
lower surface densely papillate-punctate, puncta- 
tion scarcely visible above, petiole very slender, 
8-12 mm long; inflorescence, like a small globose 
scaly bud, axillary, about 1.5 mm across, very few 
flowering at this season, pedicels 1-2 from an 
inflorescence, slender, 2-3 mm long; staminate 
flowers 4-merous, calyx lobed about half way, lobes 
ovate, slightly acuminate, carinate; corolla tube 
very short, completely included, lobes about 2 mm 
long, oblong, cucullate, black-punctate dorsally, 
almost erect at anthesis, margins strongly papillate; 
anthers ovate or oval, about 1.5 mm long, dehiscent 
while corolla lobes are still not spreading, apex 
papillate, pistillate flowers and fruits unavailable. 
SrEcmiENs SEEN.-HiVaOa I.: Atuona-Feani Trail, ridge 
crest and top of leeward slope in cloud-forest, 1200-1300 m, 
Sachet & Decker 1154 (US, type, P, Fo, K, MO, UH, A, 
BISH); North side of Mt. Temetiu, 1100 m, PES (M & A) 148 
(UC). 
Myrsine grantii Fosberg & Sachet 
Myrsine grantii Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 
21:7, 1975. 
Shrub or small tree, glabrous; leaves chartaceous 
to coriaceous, small to moderate sized, elliptic or 
obovate, veins not prominent; flowers subsessile in 
scaly-bracteate clusters of 3-5 (-7), bracts, calyx- 
lobes and corolla-lobes glandular-ciliolate; anthers 
sagittate, apex blunt, papillate, stigma corona- 
form, irregularly lobed; fruit globose or subglobose, 
5-7 mm long. 
Key to the Varieties of Myrsine grantii 
Leaves mainly obovate, mainly less than 10 cm long ............................................................ var. grrmtii 
Leaves mainly elliptic-oblong, mainly 9-1 3 cm long ............................................. var. tov5im-s 
Myrsine grantii Fosberg & Sachet var. grantii 
Glabrous shrub or small tree 3-6 m tall; cata- 
phylls caducous, oblong to somewhat obovate, 
obtuse, 4-13 mm long; leaves coriaceous or sub- 
coriaceous, broadly obovate to broadly oblong or 
elliptic, blades 4-13 cm x 3-6 cm, apex obtuse to 
rounded, base acute to obtuse, obscurely punctate 
beneath, more obscurely so above, veins moder- 
ately prominent above, less so beneath, somewhat 
irregular, 1.5-10 mm apart, depending on size of 
leaf, anastomosing near margin, merging there into 
obscure secondary network but not forming a 
distinct marginal vein, margin slightly revolute, 
petiole 3-4 mm wide, 3-6 mm long (rarely, in no. 
1789, leaves subsessile); flowers subsessile in few- 
flowered clusters, subtended by scale-like bracts, 
tetramerous; calyx 1.3-1.5 mm long, lobes ovate, 
about 1 mm long, acute to obtuse, usually with a 
large central dark spot or several dark lines; corolla 
lobes spreading, broadly elliptic or obovate, obtuse 
10 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
or rounded at apex, somewhat narrowed at base, 
notably black-punctate, margins irregularly papil- 
late, 1.5-2 mm long, tube 1 mm long; anthers about 
1 mm long, curved, narrowly triangular sagittate, 
apex blunt, papillate; lower lobes rounded at bases; 
pistillode somewhat ovoid, somewhat over 1 mm 
long, stigma crown-like, spreading, irregularly 
undulately lobed; pistillate flowers not available; 
fruits globose or subglobose, about 5-7 mm diam- 
eter, black marked, subtended by spreading per- 
sistent calyx, crowned by scar of caducous stigma. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Uahuka I.: s.1., Whitney Exfledition 1837 
(BISH), 1789 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: Tenatinaei, 3620 ft Ill00 m], PES (M d. A) 492 
(BISH, type, NY (as Ad.M)); Kopaafaa, 2800 ft [800-900 m], 
PES (M C A) HO I008 (BISH, NY (as A&M)); Atuona-Feani 
trail, ridge crest, 1200-1300 m, Sachet G Decker 1180 (US, P, 
UH, Fo). Fatuiva I.: Omoa, 700 m, Brown 915 (BISH). Brown 
cited his 915 and Mumford G Adamson 492 under his 
Rapanea nyrici folia form mar4 uesensis. 
ETHNOBOTANY.-F. Brown cites tiki as the name 
on Fatuiva, presumably of his 915 collection. There 
is no other record of this name. 
Myrsine grantii var. touiiensis Fosberg & Sachet 
Myrsine grantii var. toviiensis Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian 
Contr. Bot., 21:8, 1975. 
Shrub to 4 m, branchlets 2-4 mm thick, brown: 
cataphylls obovate rounded at apex; leaves elliptic- 
oblong to slightly obovate, 9-13.5 X 4-5.5 cm or 
smaller, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, apex acute 
to obtusish in genera1 outline, tip blunt to rounded, 
base from strongly contracted to cuneate or slightly 
attenuate to a very slightly winged petiole, 5-10 
mm long, 2 mm wide, variably dark punctate and 
lineate beneath, less so but papillate above, espe- 
cially when young, venation not prominent, less 
so beneath, main veins rather irregularly spaced, 
12-15 (-17) on a side, usually curved downward 
(or divaricate) to join midrib, anastomosing near 
margin to form weak undulating submarginal vein, 
weaker veins in some intervals not reaching sub- 
marginal vein, network rather obscure; inflores- 
cences reduced to very low scaly-bracted tubercles, 
bracts broadly ovate obtuse with erose brown 
glandular-ciliate margins; flowers 3-5 (-7) in a 
cluster, subsessile, calyx united about y3, lobes 4, 
ovate, obtuse to acutish, glandular-ciliolate, dark 
punctate-papillate, corolla in bud broadly ovoid, 
lobes about 1.5 mm long, ovate subacute, with 
black papillae dorsally, or these fused in lines, mar- 
gins densely glandular-puberulent, in a band both 
inside and outside the actual margin; tube in bud 
extremely short; anthers or antherodes broadly 
sagittate, 1.5 mm long, blunt at apex, which is 
densely glandular-puberulent; pistil scarcely de- 
veloped, style flattened, blade-like, ovate, less than 
1 mm long; immature fruit on a pedicel 1.5 mrn 
long, 1 mm thick, crowned with a disk-shaped co- 
roniform stigma with several obscure lobes includ- 
ing an elongate 1-1.5 mm long subulate, angled 
one, caducous before full maturity; mature fruit 
globose, 5 mm in diameter when dry, crowned with 
a disk-like stigma scar, surface thickly beset with 
pale slightly elangate papillae, mixed with scat- 
tered black glandular dots. 
Differs from var. grantii especially in the longer, 
narrower petioles, distinct submarginal veins in 
the thinner usually elliptic-oblong leaves with veins 
curving downward to join the midrib. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva 1,:"Plateau de Tovii, savane, 
2 Mars 1973," F. Halle 2077 (US, type, P, MPU). 
Myrsine nukuhiuensis Fosberg & Sachet 
Mynine nukuhiuensis Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. 
Bot., 21:9, 1975. 
Glabrous shrub or tree up to 10 m tall, branch- 
lets 3-5 mm thick; cataphylls ovate strongly acu- 
minate, up to at least 7 mm long: leaves thin 
coriaceous, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, large, up to 
25 cm X 11 cm (mostly 15-20 X 6-8 cm, except 
Halle 2077a, which has much smaller leaves, nar- 
rowly elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate, 10-14 X 3-4 
cm, petiole 9-12 mm), acute at both ends, apex 
blunt, blade somewhat black-punctate on either 
side, veins not very prominent, 5-15 mm apart, 
proximately curving downward to fuse with mid- 
rib, some weaker ones between, anastomosing dis- 
tally into a looping submarginal vein from 3 to 10 
mm from margin, network of 2-3 orders of promi- 
nence between veins, petiole 7-15 mm long, 2-10 
mm thick when dried; dried fruits on pedicels 2-3 
mm long, subglobose, to 6 mm long, somewhat 
narrower when dry (only present on no. 2214, on 
label said to be red, 1.5-1.7 cm diameter when 
NUMBER 23 
11 
fresh; in no, 2180, said to be bright red, 2 cm, 
seeds 5 mm diameter). 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-NukUhiva I.: s. slopes of Mt. Tapuaooa, 
Gillett 2180 (BISH, US); Toovii Valley near Tapuaooa shel- 
ter, 900 m, Gillett2214 (BISH, US, P); Ooumuu Mt., 3500 
ft [1100-1200 m], PES (M 6 A) 581 (BISH, LeB); plateau de 
Tovii, savane, Halle077n (US). 
Myrsine tahuatensis Fosberg & Sachet 
Myrsine tahuatensis Fosberg & Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. 
Bot., 21:10, 1975. 
Shrub 4 m tall, glabrous, young branchlets 5-7 
mm thick with leaves crowded at intervals, more 
widely separated between the crowded portions, 
leaf scars transversely elliptical with a broad depres- 
sion above; leaves obovate, sessile, up to 22 X 11 
cm, apex obtuse to slightly bluntly acuminate, 
base somewhat auriculate or cordate, blade mi- 
nutely and irregularly black-punctate, especially 
beneath, becoming stiff and subcoriaceous, main 
veins 14-22 on a side, visible above and beneath, 
irregularly placed, opposite to alternate, diverging 
at somewhat different angles, decurrent into the 
broad midrib, forking distally and anastomosing 
in arches that do not reach the margin, network 
obscure, especially beneath, older branchlets mot- 
tled light gray (possibly from lichens), bearing, 
below leaves, irregularly spirally disposed fascjcies 
of 4-7 thick scaly divergent inflorescence branches 
up to 5 mm long and 2.5 mm thick. Flowers and 
fruits unavailable, except for a single detached 
fruit with mottled, dark and pale minutely peb- 
bled surface, obviously immature-its sides rather 
collapsed, presumably subglobose when fresh, 3 
mm long, on a thick short pedicel, 1.5 mm long, 
1 mm thick, fruit subtended by a whorl of 3 thick 
calyx-lobes (another perhaps abortive), connate at 
base, broadly triangular, papillate, apex of fruit 
crowned by a short coroniform stigma of 3 or 4 
lobes (one perhaps damaged or poorly developed), 
from an extremely low ring-like tube, lobes bluntly 
acumina te, irregularly incurved. 
This species is represented by rather inadequate 
material but seems closest to M. taitensis Gray of 
Tahiti. It differs in larger, somewhat thinner, corn- 
pletely sessile leaves and in the conspicuously 
fasciculate (branched at base), much longer in- 
florescences, as well as in having the leaves tending 
more to be crowded into intervals on the branch- 
lets (?croissance rythmique nette? ). 
huata,? 17 Mar. 1973, Halle 2171 (US, type, P, MPU). 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Tahuata.: ?Region du sommet de Ta- 
PRIMULACEAE 
Herbs, rarely shrubby; leaves opposite, whorled 
or basal, rarely alternate, simple, rarely dissected, 
exstipulate, often gland-dotted; flowers bisexual, 
usually actinomorphic, axillary or in bracteate 
racemes or umbels; calyx 4-9 lobed; corolla gamo- 
petalous, 4-9 lobed, rotate to salverform; stamens 
4-9, opposite corolla-lobes, rarely scale-like stami- 
nodes alternating with them, anthers 2-celled; 
pistil 1, ovary superior to half-inferior, unilocular, 
with free-central placentation, ovules few to nu - 
merous, style 1, stigma usually capitate; fruit a 
5-1 0 valved capsule, or circumscissile. 
A medium-sized family, almost cosmopolitan, 
relatively few in the tropics; one genus with one 
species in the Marquesas. 
Samolus L. 
Samolus L., Sp. Pl., 171, 1753. 
Shefieldia J. R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen., 9, 1775; 17, 1776. 
Herbs, rarely slightly woody; leaves alternate or 
crowded at base; flowers in a terminal raceme or 
corymb, 5-parted, calyx united, deeply lobed, per- 
sistent, corolla exceeding calyx, lobes longer than 
tube, stamens included, inserted on tube or throat 
of corolla, staminodia alternating with them, ovary 
partly inferior, fruit a 5-valved capsule; seeds 
angular. 
Widespread mostly temperate genus of few spe- 
cies, mostly of wet, sometimes saline places. One 
species was found long ago in the Marquesas. 
Samolus repens (J. R. & G. Forster) Persoon 
Samolus repens (J. R. & G. Forster) Persoon, Syn. Pl., 1:171, 
Shefieldia repens J. R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen., 9, 1775; 18, 
1805. 
pl. 9, 1776. 
Herb to 20 cm tall, several stems from root 
crown, sparsely or usually not branched, stems 4- 
angled, rugose, pustulate scurfy with minute pel- 
12 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
tate white scales (or collapsed bladders?) pustules 
of stems (and especially of leaves) with pits in sum- 
mits; leaves alternate, abundantly scattered along 
stems, ascending, fleshy, oblanceolate, acute, pustu- 
late and scurfy (as stems); about 1 cm long, lower 
part involute so as to appear like a tubular petiole, 
somewhat broadly attached, pits of leaves dark so 
leaf appears punctate dorsally, rosette leaves petio- 
late and spatulate; inflorescence a bracteate raceme, 
1-2 cm long, 1-5 flowers, with thick receptacles, 5 
ovate fleshy sepals, involute so as to appear subu- 
late and pustulate punctate when dry, corolla about 
4 mm long, united in lower 1 mm or so, lobes 
obovate with rounded apex. 
This species is known from New Zealand, Austra- 
lia, Easter Island, and temperate South America 
(Chile); not hitherto recorded from Polynesia, 
except Easter Island. 
The description applies only to the Marquesan 
collection. Others are larger, with much longer 
leaves and longer inflorescences with more flowers. 
SPECIMEN SEEN.-Marquesas: ?Noukahiva,? s. coil. s.n. (P). 
PLUMBAGINACEAE 
Herbs or shrubs, leaves simple, alternate or basal, 
exstipulate, flowers 5-parted, calyx gamosepalous, 
corolla gamopetalous, stamens 5, basally attached, 
ovary superior, 1-celled, the single ovule pendulous 
from a basal funicle, style 1 or 5, fruit an utricle or 
a circumscissile capsule. 
A small family, almost cosmopolitan, with a few 
members commonly planted as ornamentals. One 
genus is found in the Marquesas. 
Plumbago L. 
Plumbago L., Gen. PI. ed. 5, 75, 1754 [=1753]. 
Suffrutescent herbs or shrubs, flowers in simple 
or branched short racemes, these often paniculate, 
calyx tubular, !%toothed, covered by conspicuous 
very sticky stalked glands, corolla salverform, style 
filiform with 5 short stigmatic branches, fruit a 
cylindrical capsule, circumscissile near the base, 
upper part dehiscing into 5 valves. 
A pantropical genus, chiefly found in dry or 
semidry areas or moderately wet coastal lowlands, 
with one indigenous species in the Marquesas and 
one cultivated species, P. indica. Another cultivated 
one, P. auriculata, is to be expected there. English 
?Leadwort? or ?Plumbago.? 
1. 
1. 
Key to Marquesan Species of Plumbago 
Corollas 2 cm or less long, limb about 1 cm across, white, leaves tending to be ovate, 
acuminate P. zeylunica 
2 
2. Leaves broadly ovate to elliptic, 3-5 cm wide, flowers red P. indica 
2. Leaves obovate to rhombic, 2 cm or less wide, flowers pale blue or white P. auriculata 
Corollas 25 cm or more long, limb 2 cm or more across 
Plumbago indica L. 
Plumbago indica L., Diss. Stickman, 24, 1754; Amoen. Acad., 
Plumbago rosea L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 215, 1762. 
Plumbago coccinea Salisbury, Prodr. Stirp., 122, 1796. 
4:133, 1759. 
Subshrub with slightly scandent striate stems; 
leaves ovate-elliptic decurrent into short petioles; 
flowers racemose, about 2.5 cm or more long, red. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Hivaoa I.: Atuona, near sea level, in 
coconut plantation, PES (M G A) 406 (BISH, LeB), sterile. 
Plumbago zeylanica L. 
Plumbago zeylanica L., Sp. Pl., 151, 1753.-F. Brown, Flora, 
222, 1935. 
Scrambling, semi-shrubby, leaves ovate to oblong, 
Rare in the Marquesas. 
acuminate, flowers white, about 1 cm across. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-EiaO 1.: top Of high ridge, 600 m, rare, 
Jones Ilif2C (BISH). 
Nukuhiva 1.: Henry in 1916 (P); Hakaheu, ?tres rare,? 
Herb. S.F.I.M. 133 (P); Hatiehu, 6 m, Brown and Henry 669 
NUMBER 23 
13 
(BISH); Hakaui Valley, 50 m, PES (M dr A) 644 (BISH) 
(very large-leafed, sterile). 
Uahuka I.: Hane-Hokatu trail, 30-40 m, Decker 1374 (US). 
Hivaoa I.: 500 m, Brown 5P (BISH, 2 sheets); Hanamenu, 
PES (M Q A) 481 (BISH, LeB) sterile. 
ETHN0BoTANY.-Marquesan names: Kahauta (PES 
644), Kohuima (S.F.Z.M. I??), kuna (PES 481), kaha 
(LeBronnec, MS, Uapou name). Said to have been 
used in medicine. 
SAPOTACEAE 
Trees and shrubs, lactiferous; leaves usually alter- 
nately or spirally arranged, simple, entire, often 
coriaceous, stipules present or, usually, absent; flow- 
ers bisexual, solitary, fascicled or cymose, axillary 
or on old wood; calyx with 4-12 lobes, united at 
base, variously arranged; corolla gamopetalous, 
deeply or shallowly 4-12 or more lobed, lobes im- 
bricate, sometimes with appendages; stamens in- 
serted on corolla, in several whorls, one series 
usually fertile and opposite the corolla lobes, the 
others alternating, these sometimes variously re- 
duced to staminodia, anthers 2-celled; pistil 1, ovary 
superior usually 4-5 (sometimes less or more) 
loculed, each locule with a single ascending axile 
or sub-basal ovule, style 1; fruit a berry with 1-few 
large radially arranged seeds with lateral or basal 
scars. 
A medium-size family, mostly tropical, very diffi- 
cult taxonomically. No native species known in 
the Marquesas, two widely cultivated fruit trees. 
Key to Marquesan Genera of Sapotaceae 
Leaves crowded, not silky beneath, flowers solitary in upper axils, calyx in 2 series of 3, corolla 
6-lobed, seeds elongate ................................................................................... Manilkma 
Leaves scattered, coppery-silky beneath, flowers in axillary clusters, calyx and corolla each a 
single connate 5-lobed series, seeds hemispherical ............................................. Chrys+hylZurn 
Chrysophyllum L. 
Chrysophyllurn L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5, 88, 1754 [=1753]. 
Trees or shrubs, leaves scattered on rather flexu- 
ous branches (or crowded), tending to be coppery- 
sericeous; flowers in axillary clusters, pedicellate, 
usually with 5 sepals, connate at base, 5 petals, 5 
stamens, no staminodia, ovary 5-12 locular, fruit a 
large berry, seeds compressed, radially arranged. 
A pantropical genus, with one or two widely 
distributed species cultivated as ornamentals and 
for their fruit. 
Chrysophyllurn cainito L. 
Chrysophyllurn cainito L., Sp. Pl., 192, 1753. 
Tree to 10 m, branches slender, branchlets 
slightly zig-zag, densely coppery-sericeous, leaves 
not crowded, elliptic, usually 7-10 X 34 cm, or 
slightly larger, or on sterile shoots much larger, 
subcoriaceous, apex slightly acuminate, upper sur- 
face subglabrous, lower densely and conspicuously 
coppery-sericeous, veins widely divergent, 2-5 mm 
apart, anastomosing near margin into an undulat- 
ing rather obscure submarginal vein, weaker veins 
between the main ones, petioles 1-1.5 cm long; 
flowers on pedicels up to 1 cm, in dense axillary 
fascicles of up to 20, pedicels and sepals densely 
coppery-sericeous, calyx 2 mm long united about 
half way, lobes concave, round, margins thin, scar- 
ious, corolla somewhat campanulate, 4 mm long, 
greenish white, lobed about v3 into broadly ovate 
rounded lobes, each with a coppery silky patch 
without, margins glabrous, glabrous within 
throughout, stamens very small, anthers broadly 
oblong, 0.7 mm long, attached by short triangular 
filaments to middle of bases of corolla lobes, ovary 
broadly ovoid, densely silky, stigma a lobed sub- 
sessile disk, fruit fleshy, purple, globose, about 6- 
10 cm diameter with about 8-10-(-12) radially 
arranged (in cross-section) somewhat compressed, 
sharp-edged semicircular seeds about 18 X 12 mm, 
brown, smooth, with a large elliptic, carinate ven- 
tral scar. 
ETHNOBOTANY.-A few large trees cultivated in 
Atuona, brought from Tahiti where it is well 
known. English: star-apple; French name: pomme 
&toile from the star-shaped arrangement of seeds 
in the fruit pulp. 
14 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
Manilkara Adanson 
Manilkara Adanson, Fam. PI., 166, 1763 [nom. cons.]. 
Achrus L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 497, 1754 [=1753] [nom. rej.]; 
Sp. PI., 1190, 1753. 
Trees, lactiferous, leaves usually leathery, tending 
to be crowded near ends of twigs, flowers pedicel- 
late, axillary, sepals in 2 series of 3 (rarely 4), 
corolla tubular, 6-lobed; stamens opposite lobes, 
staminodia alternate with them, ovary 6-14 celled, 
seeds with narrow ventral scar. 
A small pantropical genus, one species of which, 
M. zapota, is planted widely for its sweet fleshy 
fruit; its latex is the chicle of commerce. 
Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen 
Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen, Blumea, 7:410, 1953. 
Achras zapota L., Sp. PI., 1190, 1753. 
Achras sapota sensu F. Brown, Flora, 223, I935 [non L., Sp. 
PI., ed. 2, 469, 17621. 
Tree to 10 m or more, young parts reddish 
pubescent; leaves crowded at ends of branchlets. 
blades elliptic to somewhat oblong or rarely 
slightly obovate, to 10 X 4.5 cm, thin coriaceous, 
somewhat falcate, apex rounded to obtuse or 
acutish, base acute to obtusish, main veins widely 
divergent, 24 mm apart, obscure beneath, not 
conspicuous above, both sides finely but rather 
obscurely reticulate-venulose, petioles slender, 12- 
25 mm long, reddish pubescent, glabrate when 
older; flowers on pedicels 10-13 mm long, solitary 
in axils of uppermost leaves or of small oblong 
bracts, sometimes crowded at tips of stems, sub- 
tended by two minute bracteoles, pedicels and 
sepals densely brown tomentose, buds broadly 
ovoid, almost hemispherical, very obtuse, 6-7 mm 
long, 5 mm wide; sepals in 2 series of 3 (4) each, 
8-10 mm long, outer broadly ovate, narrowed some- 
what to apex, inner broadly elliptic, obtuse, all 
densely tomentose without and near margins with- 
in; corolla glabrous, about 8-10 mm long, glabrous 
tube 6-7 mm long, lobes 6, narrowly ovate, apex 
rounded or tridentate, alternating with 6 petaloid 
staminodia, stamens 6, elliptic, 2 mm long, mu- 
cronulate on short filaments inserted opposite 
corolla lobes, a ring of dense wool surrounding 
ovary at base of corolla, ovary ovoid, densely 
woolly, style thick, glabrous, somewhat exceeding 
corolla, stigma gummy, not much larger than style; 
fruit globose, brown, up to 7-8 cm across, skin 
dull, scurfy, flesh thick, dark honey-colored, very 
sweet, seeds up to 10-12, ellipsoid, 2-2.5 cm long, 
somewhat compressed, dark brown to black, 
smooth, scar lance-linear, ventral, not reaching 
apex of seed. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Hivaoa I.: single tree on grounds of 
Compagnie Navale, Atuona, F. Brown (1935:223); Atuona, 
seen in garden in 1963 by Sachet. 
ETHN0BoTANY.-vernacular names: English, Sap- 
odilla; French, Sapotille. 
OLEACEAE 
Trees or shrubs, sometimes scandent, leaves oppo- 
site, rarely alternate or subalternate, simple or 
compound, exstipulate; A owers bisexual in usually 
few-flowered fascicles, cymes or panicles, sepals free, 
corolla gamopetalous (rarely absent), actinomor- 
phic, lobes 4 or 5, valvate or imbricate, stamens 2, 
ovary superior, 2-loculed, with 2 or more ovules in 
a cell, style 1, stigma minute, fruit a capsule, berry, 
drupe, or samara. 
A rather small, widely distributed family, con- 
taining the domestic olive and a number of orna- 
mentals, including the lilacs, privets, and jasmines. 
Only one genus, Jasminum, in the Marquesas. The 
olive tree was imported into the Marquesas, and 
LeBronnec (MS) mentioned seeing a large tree in 
Taiohae, probably in 1929 or 1930, which never 
bore fruit. There are no collections and no recent 
observations. 
Jasminum L. 
]asminun L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 7, 1754 [=1753]. 
Vines or scandent shrubs; leaves usually oppo- 
site, unifoliolate or pinnately compound; flowers 
in few-flowered cymes; calyx funnel-form or cam- 
panulate, with 4-9 teeth; corolla salverform, lobes 
4-10, imbricate, stamens included; fruit a geminate 
berry with 2 seeds in each half. 
Old World genus with a number of cultivated 
ornamental species; several species known from the 
Marquesas, possibly one native. 
NUMBER 23 
Key to Marquesan Species of Jasminum 
1. Leaves compound, leaflets 3 or more. ................................................................................... 2 
2. 
2. Leaves pinnate, leaflets 5 or more ......................................................... J. grandiflorum 
1. Leaves unifoliolate or apparently simple ...................................................................................... 3 
3. Leaves subcordate to cordate, plant conspicuously pubescent, corolla lobes pointed .......... 
J. multiflorum 
3. Leaves rounded to obtuse at base, plant glabrous or only very thinly pubescent ....... 4 
4. Leaves with basal pair of veins very strong and ascending, appearing trinerved, corolla 
lobes linear-lanceolate, apices sharply acute or acuminate ................. J. luurifolium 
4. Leaves without a strong basal pair of veins, corolla lobes more than half as broad as 
Leaves trifoliolate ................................................................................................ J. didymum 
............................................................................................................... 
15 
long, apices obtuse to rounded 
Jasminum didymum Forster f. 
Jasminum didymitm Forster f., Prodr., 3, l786.-F. Brown, 
Flora, 225, 1935. 
This species was reported by Brown from the 
Marquesas and other islands, but he cited no speci- 
mens (nor indeed of the other species of Jasminum 
he discussed), and I have found none in the her- 
baria where I have worked. It may be a misidenti- 
fication. The plant, however, is commonly found 
in other islands of southeastern Polynesia, and 
there are many collections from Tahiti, so it might 
occur in the Marquesas. 
The following description is based on specimens 
from other islands of Polynesia. Liana with gla- 
brous, sprawling, scrambling, or rarely somewhat 
twining stems, leaves trifoliolate, petioles 1-2 cm 
long, petiolules 4-15 mm, leaflets usually very 
broadly ovate or elliptic or oval, up to 9 X 5 cm, 
obtuse to acuminate, usually with 5 rather strong 
nerves from just above base, rather plinerved, base 
rounded to subcordate. Inflorescences loosely thyr- 
soid in axils, occasionally terminal on small 
branches, minutely puberulent, branches of thyrse 
dichasioid, the lateral pedicels branched with 2 
flowers, central pedicel 3-5 mm, whole thyrse up 
to 13 X 5 cm, usually much smaller, with up to 4 
internodes in main axis; flowers rather small for 
the genus, calyx campanulate to cylindric, about 
3 X 2 mm, truncate except for minute blunt den- 
ticulation on margins, corolla salverform, tube 
about 5-7 mm long, lobes 4-7, suborbicular about 
3 mm long, white, very fragrant; calyx in fruit 
somewhat enlarged and pedicel swollen, obconic; 
fruits 2, or one of them variously reduced or 
aborted, globose, 8-10 (-15) mm long, black. 
J. sambac 
Described from the Society Islands. The Tahitian 
name, tafifi, means a twining liana, and is also used 
for other twiners. 
Jasminum grandiflorum L. 
Jasminum grandiflorum L., Sp. Pl., ed 2, 9, 1762.-F. Brown, 
Jasminum oficinale L. var. grandiflorum (L.) Stokes, Bot. 
Jasminum oficinale f. grandiflorum (L.) Kobuski, Journ. 
Flora, 225, 1935. 
Comment. 1:21, 1830. 
Arn. Arb., 13:161, 1932. 
Loosely branched or scandent shrub, not twin- 
ing, with long internodes, subglabrous, branches 
widely divergent to somewhat ascending; leaves 
pinnately compound, commonly 7-9 foliate, 5-10 
cm long, terminal leaflet ovate, acuminate, 1.5-3.5 
cm long, lateral ones smaller, obliquely ovate, 
obtuse to acute, mucronulate, petioles 12-20 mm; 
flowers in loose cymes, these terminal and on short 
lateral branchlets, the whole branch systems becom- 
ing open cymose-paniculate, terminal flowers in 
cymes on pedicels 5-15 mm long, the cyme-branches 
below them much longer, either bearing single 
bracteate flowers or very loose dichasia, sometimes 
only one lateral flower developing, sometimes one 
lateral pedicel proliferating monochasially, calyx 
tube cylindric-campanulate, about 1 mm wide and 
long, lobes 5, subulate-filiform, 5-12 mm long, 
slightly puberulent, erect or somewhat curved- 
spreading; corolla somewhat curved zygomorphic- 
salverform, tube slender, 10-17 mm long, subequal 
with limb, limb in bud fusiform, lobes 4-5, oval, 
10-17 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, rounded to obtuse 
and mucronulate at apex, corolla white within, 
purplish maroon without, fragrant. 
16 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: low elevation, Brown h 
Brown 710 (BISH). 
Uapou I.: 10-15 m; houseyard, Hakahetau Village, orna- 
mental, Decker 2267 (US). 
Uahuka I.: 1-10 m, village of Vaipae?e in canyon-like val- 
ley, ornamental, Decker 1617 (BISH, US, P) (a form with 
unusually small flowers). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona, near sea level, cultivated, PES (M G. A) 
215 (BISH, LeB) ?vine, flowers yellow, fragrant.? Atuona, 
cultivated, PES Ex 215 (BISH). 
ETHNoB0TANY.-Jasmine. Pitate is the Tahitian 
name for cultivated jasmines, also used in the 
Marquesas. Used for crowns (PES 215, Ex 215), 
used at funerals (Brown d. Brown 710). 
Jasminum laurifolium Roxburgh 
Jasminum laurifoliurn Roxburgh, Hort. Beng., 3, 1814 [nom. 
Jasminum angustifolium var. laurifolium Ker, Bot. Reg., 7: 
Jasminurn nitidum Auct. [non Skan], Kew Bull., 1898:225, 
nud.]; F1. Ind., 1:91, 1820. 
t. 521, 1821. 
1898. 
Shrub or climber, twigs appressed puberulent; 
leaves unifoliolate ovate to ovate lanceolate, 5-9 X 
2-3.5 cm, apex strongly acuminate, bases rounded 
to acutish, glabrous above except for puberulence 
on main nerves especially beneath, a principal pair 
of veins from at or near base and strongly ascend- 
ing make the leaf appear trinervate, 2-4 weaker 
veins on each side farther up, anastomosing into 
an obscure coarse network, petiole 4-6 mm long, 
strongly appressed pubescent, articulated at about 
the middle, the lower half persistent after the 
leaflet has fallen; flowers slightly fragrant, 1-7 in 
short terminal racemes, lower pedicels occasionally 
dichasioid-ramified, pedicels 1.5-2 cm long, puberu- 
lent, patent to ascending; calyx tube campanulate, 
to 3 mm long, lobes 6, filiform-subulate, sparsely 
puberulent, about 1 to 1.5 cm long, patent to 
ascending, straight; corolla salverform, white 
within, reddish purple without, tube 15-20 mm 
long, 1-1.5 mm thick, almost imperceptibly dilated 
in upper third, lobes 9-1 1 not or scarcely contorted 
in bud, buds sharply pointed, lobes about equaling 
tube, linear lanceolate, acute to acuminate, stamens 
and style included in corolla tube, stigma exserted; 
fruit unavailable. 
A pantropically distributed cultivated species 
native to India. Cultivated in Tahiti where it is 
called jasmin-&toile. 
SPECIMENS 
Decker 1466 
5 m, Sachet 
SEEN.-uahuka I.: Vaipae?e, cultivated, 1-10 m, 
(US, P). Hivaoa I.: Atuona, planted in garden, 
1286 (US). 
Jasminum multiflorum (Burman f.) Andrews 
Jasminurn rnultiflorurn (Burman f.) Andrews, Bot. Reposit., 
Nyctanthes multiflora Burman f., F1. Indica, 5, t. 3, f. 1, 1768. 
8:t.496, 1807. 
Shrub, tending to be semiscandent, stems, pet- 
ioles, under sides of lea?-nerves, and inflorescences 
densely pilose to tomentose, branches strongly di- 
vergent to somewhat ascending, terete, leaves uni- 
foliolate, opposite, very broadly ovate to very 
broadly oblong, up to 5 (-7) X 4.5 (-5) cm, thinly 
pilose above and beneath, densely so on nerves 
beneath, main veins 3 or 4 on a side, apex acute to 
acuminate, rarely obtuse, base somewhat cordate, 
petiole 5-10 mm, straight to curved, inflorescences 
congested to subcapitate, terminal on lateral 
branchlets, densely pilose, 10-15 or more flowered, 
flowers blooming successively, fragrant, white, calyx 
densely pilose, calyx tube narrowly campanulate, 
about 2 mm long, lobes 6-7, subulate, pilose, 5-8 
mm long, erect or strongly ascending, corolla 
salverform, tube 12-17 mm long, 1 mm thick at 
base, dilated upward to 2 mm, limb ovoid-fusiform, 
pointed in bud, lobes 8, ovate-elliptic, acute, 12-14 
X 3-4 mm, patent; not seen fruiting. 
Pantropical cultivated species said to be native 
to India (or Borneo?). 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Hivaoa 1.: central Puamau, 100-200 ft 
[30-70 m], local, Decker 556 (US, P). Atuona, cultivated in 
garden, Sachet 1276 (US, P). 
Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton 
Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton, Hort. Kew. 1:8, 1789.-F. 
Nyctanthes samhac L., Sp. Pl., 6, 1753. 
Brown, Flora, 225, 1935. 
Scandent shrub, stems, petioles and inflores- 
cences sparsely to moderately woolly-appressed 
pilosulose, leaves unifoliolate, opposite to subop- 
posite, larger ones (distally on branchlets) broadly 
elliptic, up to 9 X 5.5 cm, usually smaller, acute, 
or obtuse, mucronate at apex, obtuse to rounded 
at base, smaller ones tending to be very broadly 
ovate, subcordate or cordate at base; main veins 
4 or 5 on a side, pinnate, no tendency for lower 
NUhlBER 23 17 
pair to be stronger, opposite or somewhat alter- 
nate, petiole 2-5 mm, curved; flowers very fragrant, 
in racemes of 5 or in triads, terminal on short 
branchlets, bracts filiform, to about 8-9 mm, pedi- 
cels to 1 cm, calyx tube campanulate, about 2.5 
mm long, 3 mm wide, lobes 9-10, subulate pilose, 
about 8 mm long, usually somewhat curved, corolla 
salverform, cream-white turning pink after falling, 
tube 10-13 mm long, 1.5 mm thick at base, very 
gradually dilated upward, limb in bud subglobose 
or broadly ovoid, rounded distally, lobes 6-9, 
usually 8, more in double-flowered forms, 12-13 X 
7-10 mm, obtuse to usually rounded at apex. 
Pantropical cultivated species, original home un- 
certain; not seen fruiting. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: Taiohae, low elevation, 
flowers white, very fragrant, introduced, not common, Brown 
729 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona, near sea level, vine, cultivated, PES 
(M G A) 303 (BISH, LeB, fragments). 
ETHNOBOTANY.-F~OWerS still used for crowns, 
?pitate.? 
LOGANIACEAE 
Habit various, latex none; leaves simple, oppo- 
site, joined at base by transverse ridges or inter- 
petiolar stipules; inflorescences basically cymose, 
sometimes circinnate, reduced to fascicles, or elab- 
orated into cymose panicles or thyrses; flowers 4-5 
merous, calyx united at base or part-way up, corolla 
gamopetalous, lobes valvate or imbricate, stamens 
alternate with corolla lobes, attached in tube or 
throat, anthers I-2-celled, longitudinally dehiscent, 
ovary usually superior, 2-loculed, ovules numerous, 
style 1 or 2 with a common stigma; fruit capsular 
or fleshy, usually septicidal, seeds usually many, 
rarely reduced to one. 
A medium-sized mostly tropical family, seeming 
ly very unnatural in its usual circumscription; as 
treated here somewhat reduced by removal of 
Fagraea to Gentianaceae. Few indigenous genera 
in oceanic Pacific islands. 
Geniostoma J. R. & G. Forster 
Geniostoma J. R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen. 12, 1775; 23, 1776. 
Shrubs or small trees; leaves penninerved, stipules 
thin, interpetiolar, forming a collar; flowers in 
small axillary cymes or thyrses, 5-merous, sepals 
united below, with 5 lobes, corolla tubular or 
salver-form, lobes tending to be recurved, stamens 
inserted in throat, filaments very short, style rather 
short, stigma capitate, placentas fleshy, accrescent; 
fruit a septicidal capsule, separating into 2 halves 
exposing the mass of seeds embedded in the per- 
sistent red fleshy placenta, which dries into a hard 
mass. 
An Indo-Pacific genus of many species, often 
very ill-distinguished; one in the Marquesas. 
Geniostoma hallei Sachet & Fosberg 
Geniostoma hollei Sachet & Fosberg, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 
Geniostoma rupestre sensu F. Brown, Flora, 227, 1935 [non 
21:13, 1975. 
J. R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen., 12, 1775; 24, 17761. 
Shrub to 3 m tall, glabrous, nodes enlarged, 
internodes irregular in length, 4-20 (-25) mm long; 
leaves ovate to broadly elliptic, up to 7 X 3.5 (4) 
cm, acute or rarely somewhat acuminate and mu- 
cronulate at apex, broadly acute at base, venation 
faint above, not prominent beneath, main veins 
(7-)8-9(-10) on a side, not in regular pairs, bend- 
ing slightly upward, becoming fainter and anasta- 
mosing near margin, network obscure, blade 
narrowed to a petiole 4-5 mm long, stipular collar 
truncate, 1.2-1.5 mm long very early rupturing 
down the interpetiolar sides; inflorescence a com- 
pound dichasium about 1-1.5 cm long, rather con- 
gested, twice trichotomous on a very short peduncle 
(very rarely, on the longest inflorescences, the cen- 
tral axis with an extra internode and the lateral 
dichasia each with a single extra outer pedicel from 
near base), a pair of ovate acuminate scale-like 
bracts at each ramification, the lowest connate, 
margins of bracts ciliolate, pedicels 24 (-5) mm 
long, with or without 1-3 scattered scale-like ovate- 
triangular ciliolate bracteoles; flowers white, foetid; 
calyx 2 mm long, lobed about v2 way, lobes trian- 
gular acuminate, ciliolate, slightly imbricate at 
base, corolla about 3 mm long, tube 2 mm, throat 
densely bearded, lobes suborbicular, imbricate in 
bud, obtuse, spreading at maturity, inner basal 
surface crinkly pilose, margins strongly ciliate, 
edges papillate without, stamens just over 1 mm 
long, anthers broadly ovate or triangular to broadly 
oblong, slightly longer than broad, about 0.8 X 0.6 
mm, apex rounded, connective conspicuous, fila- 
18 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
ments very short, ovary broadly ovoid, stigma capi- 
tate, fleshy, sessile, constricted vertically and very 
slightly bilobed; fruit (immature) cylindric-fusiform, 
8 X 3 mm, slightly beaked, beak tipped by shrunken 
stigma. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Tahuata I.: ?Region du sornmet du 
Tahuata,? 17 Mar. 1973, F. Halle 2170 (US, holotype, P, 
MPU, isotypes). 
Very closely allied to G. astylum Gray of Tahiti, 
differing in the smaller less oblong leaves, much 
smaller, more contracted inflorescences, which are 
not or scarcely thyrsoid, in the more usual presence 
of bracteoles on the pedicels, in the somewhat 
acuminate much more ciliate calyx lobes, and in 
the corolla more densely bearded within. 
Apparently very rare, one plant only seen by 
collector. A sterile specimen collected on Hivaoa, 
Feani, at 700 m, F. Brown 2096 (BISH), may be 
the same. 
GENTIANACEAE 
Herbs, shrubs, or trees, usually smooth, leaves 
opposite, simple; flowers 4- or usually 5-merous, 
calyx gamosepalous, lobed; corolla gamopetalous, 
lobes variously imbricated or plicate and usually 
contorted in bud; stamens 5, inserted on the corolla 
tube alternating with the lobes, anthers 2-loculed; 
pistil 1, ovary superior, 1 or 2 celled with parietal 
or axile placentation, ovules and seeds many. 
Almost cosmopolitan, with only herbaceous mem- 
bers in temperate zones, herbs, shrubs, and trees 
in the tropics. One genus in the Marquesas (which 
is usually put in the Loganiaceae). 
Fagraea Thunberg 
Fagraea Thunberg, K. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. (Stock- 
holm), 3:132, 1782. 
Shrubs and trees with leathery leaves, stipules 
paired, intrapetiolar, connate with petiole at base, 
flowers in cymes, very fragrant, corollas campanu- 
late to tubular salverform; fruit a many-seeded 
berry. 
An Indo-Pacific genus, usually placed in the 
Loganiaceae, a family that seems artificial and bet- 
ter clarified by removing such extraneous elements 
as Fagraea. 
Fagraea berteriana Gray ex Bentham 
Fagraea berteriana Gray ex Bentham, Journ. Linn. SOC. Bot., 
1:98, 1857.-Drake, Ill., 238, 1892; Flore, 139, 1892.-F. 
Brorvn, Flora, 228, 1935. 
Tree, cymes few flowered (buds up to at least 
16), corolla white, turning creamy yellow, waxy, 
salverform, with 5 rounded to slightly obovate 
spreading to recurved lobes; anthers linear, basally 
inserted below summit of throat; ovary superior, 
cylindric, style thick-filiform, stigma bifid into two 
broad flat lobes; fruit orange to red, 3.5-5.5 cm 
long with juicy pulp and seeds embedded in it. 
A widespread polymorphic species, with many 
varieties, extending from Queensland and New 
Guinea east to the Marquesas and north to Micro- 
nesia, carried around by Polynesians as an orna- 
mental, so that its original range in Polynesia is 
very difficult to determine. Originally described 
from Tahiti. One variety known from the Mar- 
quesas differs from the Tahitian var. berteriana in 
the shorter corolla tube, 4-6 cm rather than 6.5-8 
cm, and from another, undescribed Tahitian variety 
in its included rather than exserted stigma. 
Fagraea berteriana var. marquisemis Fosberg & 
Sachet 
Fagraea berteriana var. marquisensis Fosberg & Sachet, Phy- 
Carissa grandis sensu Jardin,  Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg,
Fagraea berteriana sensu F. Brown, Flora, 228, 1935 [pro 
tologia, 28 (5):471-472, 1974. 
5:314, 1857. 
parte]. 
Glabrous tree, leaves obovate, blades up to 20 X 
10 cm, rounded at apex with a slight blunt acu- 
men, base cuneate, texture coriaceous, venation 
obscure, veins 10-12 on a side, petiole 1.2-4 cm 
long, free portion of intrapetiolar stipules 1.5-2 
mm long, thick, blunt; inflorescence with up to 
15 (-16) flowers; calyx lobes 5, broadly ovate to 
semicircular, obtuse to subtruncate, 5-8 mm long, 
margins scarious, corolla tube 4.3-6 cm long, some- 
what dilated above into a slightly broader throat 
1.5 cm long, the 2 cm below this transversally 
wrinkled within, lobes (4-)5 about 2 X 1.3 cm, 
rounded to slightly obovate, spreading to recurved, 
waxy, very fragrant, white turning yellowish with 
age, stamens inserted at base of throat, filaments 1 
cm long, anthers 1 cm long, broadly linear; pistil 
NUMBER 23 
19 
included in corolla tube, ovary cylindric, 1 cm 
long, style thick-filiform, about 2.5 cm long, stigma 
5 mm long, bifid into 2 somewhat spreading flat 
obovate lobes, rounded at apex; fruit a glossy 
orange to red berry, globose to subglobose or very 
broadly elliptic, 3.5-4.5 X 2.5-4.0 cm, not umbo- 
nate, not or only slightly beaked. 
(P). 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-MarqUeSaS Islands: Herbier S.F.I.M. I35 
Nukuhiva I.: Barclay s.n. (K); Barclay 3217 (BM); Quayle 
1581 (BISH); Taiohae, 500 m, Brown 393 (BISH); Hakaui, 
1000 m, Brown 467 (BISH); Taiohae Valley, 150 m, PES 
(M t A) 597 (BISH, NY as AbM); Tovii, F. Halle 2062 (US). 
Uapou I.: Poumaka, Haka Hetau Valley, PES (A & M) 
Hivaoa I.: Puamau village, Decker 918 (US, type); Atuona, 
Brown 861 (BISH); Atuona, in small ravine at top of vil- 
UP-I (NY, BISH, A). 
lage, Sachet 1310 (US, P); PES (M b. A) 435 (BISH, NY as 
AbM, LeB); east of airstrip, F. Halle 2130 (US). 
ETHNOBOTANY.-The Marquesans valued all flow 
ers and fragrant plants, and Fagraea was one of 
their most important ones. The Marquesan name 
for this species is pua, which means flower. They 
were made into crowns and garlands, used to per- 
fume coconut oil to rub over the body and in the 
hair. The red fruit called Kaupe served in funeral 
rites. There were also some medicinal uses of the 
bark and other parts of the tree. 
APOCYNACEAE 
Trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs usually lacti- 
ferous; leaves opposite or whorled, rarely alternate, 
Key to the Marquesan Species of Apocynaceae 
1. Leaves mostly congested at tips of rather thick branches or alternate. .................... 2 
2. Leaves linear, flowers yellow or orange, campanulate, fruit a drupe Thevefio peruviana 
2. Leaves broader, flowers not usually yellow or orange, fruit various. .................. 3 
3. Leaves pale beneath, with prominent veins, inflorescence bracts inconspicuous, corolla 
3. Leaves green beneath, veins not conspicuous, inflorescence bracts prominent, corolla 
salverform, fruit a drupe ................................................... Cerbera manghos 
1. Leaves in well-separated pairs or whorls ............................................................. 4 
4. Leaves opposite ...................................................................................................... 5 
5. Herbs, or slightly suffrutescent, less than 1 m tall, flowers showy, salverform ................. 
......................................................................................................... Catharanthus roseus 
5. Shrubs or trees ........................................................................................................ 6 
6. Leaves ovate to broadly elliptic, whitish and venulose beneath, flowers small, folli- 
cles elongate-linear ...................................................................... Alstonia marquisensis 
6. Leaves elliptic, not strongly veined, green beneath, flowers showy, 2 cm across or 
wider; fruit (rarely developed) broader than linear.. .... Tobernaemontana divaruatn 
4. Leaves whorled ....................................................................................................................... 7 
7. Leaves lance-linear or linear oblong, leathery, flowers showy, with scales in throat ... 8 
8. Flowers single nearly odorless .......................................................... Nerium olermder 
8. Flowers double, fragrant ........................................ Nerium oleander var. indicum 
7. Leaves broader ............................................................................................................. 9 
9. Plants scandent or twining ..................................................................... 10 
10. Leaves less than 5 cm long, obtuse, flowers less than 5 mm across, fruit of one 
or more smooth drupes ................................................................... Alyxia stellata 
10. Leaves 8-10 cm or more long; acuminate, flowers 5-10 cm across, fruit a spiny 
capsule .............................................................................. Allaman& hendersonii 
9. Trees or shrubs, not scandent; fruits paired drupes ..................................... ..I1 
11. Leaves elliptic or oblong-elliptic, endocarps smooth or with large holes, dorsi- 
ventrally compressed ................................................................................. 12 
12. Veins visible on both leaf surfaces.. .................... Ochrosia nukuhivensis 
12. Veins obscure below, acuminate, buds pointed .......... Ochrosia fatuhivenris 
11. Leaves broadly obovate-oval, or obovate-cuneate rounded or obtuse at apex, 
endocarps spiny, terete ...................................................................... 13 
13. Leaves cuneate, drupes red, endocarp about 4 cm long. Neiosperma brownii 
13. Leaves broadly obovate, not very cuneate, drupes yellow, endocarps 5 cm or 
more long [not definitely known from the Marquesas] .............. 
funnel-shaped, fruit a pair of follicles (seldom seen) ................ Plumeria rubra 
...................................................... Neiosperma oppositifolin 
20 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
simple, entire, exstipulate; flowers in cymes usually 
bracteate or solitary in leaf axils, calyx of usually 
5 free sepals or at least deeply lobed; corolla gamo- 
petalous, various in form, lobes 5 usually imbricate 
and contorted in bud; stamens inserted at top of 
corolla tube alternate with lobes, sessile or nearly 
so, connivent in a close ring around the stigma, 
2-celled, pollen usually granular; pistil one but 
composed of two, rarely 3-5, separate carpels united 
at apex by a single style with a thickened variously 
shaped stigma (or clavuncle), ovary surrounded at 
base by a varied arrangement of glands or nec- 
taries, each ovary with a single cell and usually 
several to many ovules; fruit usually a pair of dry 
or fleshy follicles or rarely drupes or berries, some- 
times one by abortion, or rarely a capsule; seeds 
few to many, often comose or alate. 
A fairly large, mostly tropical family, not very 
well represented in the indigenous Marquesan 
flora, but with a number of common tropical orna- 
mental species, some of them in Marquesan gar- 
dens. There are 6 native species, 4 of them endemic, 
the rest widely distributed in the Pacific Islands. 
Allumanda L. 
Allamanda L., Mant. Pl., 2:146, 1771. 
Vine-like or shrubby, with whorled elliptic leaves, 
terminal cymes of showy campanulate-salverform 
Bowers; calyx without glands, asymmetric; fruit a 
unilocular spiny capsule; seeds flat, winged or 
t hick-margined. 
An American genus with a number of species 
cultivated as ornamentals and widely planted in 
tropical countries. One species known to be grown 
in the Marquesas. 
Allamanda hendersonii Bull ex Dombrain 
Allamanda hendersonii Bull ex Dombrain, Floral Mag., 5, t. 
Allamanda cathartica var. hendersonii (Bull ex Dombrain) 
Allamanda cathartica sensu F. Brown, Flora, 229, 1935 [non 
268, 1866. 
Nicholson, Dict. 4:488, 1888. 
L., Mant. PI. 2:214, 17711. 
Glabrous scrambling climber, leaves elliptic, 
acuminate, 8 cm or more long, often in fours, 
corolla bright yellow, up to 10 cm across, tube and 
throat shorter than diameter of limb, lobes round- 
ed; fruit very seldom seen. 
One of the most popular and showy tropical 
ornamentals, often considered a variety of the 
smaller-flowered, more shrubby A. cathartica L., 
which has the leaves notably hairy beneath. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-NUkUhiva I.: Taiohae village, Decker 
2149 (US); Brown 747 (BISH, not seen) appears to be this 
species also, from his description. 
Uahuka I.: Vaipae'e village, Decker 1676 (US). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona, garden, PES (M 6. A) 407 (BISH), 
sterile; in garden, near sea level, PES Ex 407 (BISH); seen 
in gardens, Sachet in 1963. 
Other species of Allamandu are commonly culti- 
vated in Tahiti and may be expected in the 
Marquesas. 
Alstonia R. Brown 
Alstonia R. Brown, Mem. Wern. SOC. 1:75, 1810 [preprint, 
nom. cons.]. 
Trees or large shrubs with opposite leaves, 
cymose panicles of small shortly tubular flowers, 
and paired, elongate, linear follicles; seeds with an 
appendage at each end. An Indo-Pacific genus 
including a number of important timber trees, two 
very closely related species in eastern Polynesia. 
Alstonia marquisensis Grant 
Alstonia marquisensis Grant, in Fosberg and Sachet, Micro- 
Alstonia costata sensu F. Brown, Flora, 233, 1935 [non (For- 
nesia 8:46, 1972. 
ster) R. Brown, 18101. 
Leaves broad, elliptic or oval, obtuse to acute, 
9-13 X 3.5-7.5 cm, secondary veins 13-20 on a 
side, strong, connected at margin by a marginal 
vein that arches between adjacent secondary veins, 
glabrous or almost so; petiole about 4 cm long; 
corolla white 11-13 mm long, with lobes to about 
6 mm long, obtuse to acute; style 2.5 mm long; 
follicles 19-29 cm long, 4-5 mm wide; seed 7-9 
mm long, proximal appendage frequently forked. 
This species is conspicuously variable in size and 
shape of leaves, size of cymes and length of folli- 
cles. It is perhaps too close to A. costata R. Brown 
of the Society and Cook Islands. A component of 
montane forest on high ridges on the larger islands. 
Nukuhiva I.: Western side, above Uea Valley, near Baie 
Marquisienne, 150-200 m, Decker 2046 (US, P, BISH) (leaves 
SPEClhfENS SEEN.-MarqUeSaS Islands: S.1. Henry 6 (P). 
NUMBER 23 21 
lance-elliptic, cymes full but loose): Tovi?i, Quayle I338 
(Bl SH) . 
Uahuka I.: s.1. Quayle 1753 (BISH), 1836 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: ?Hauts plateaux,? Henry in 1919 (P); Atuona- 
Feani trail, 1200-1300 m, Sachet 6 Decker 1174 (US, BISH, 
P); Feani, 900 m, Brown 879 (BISH, type); ?route de Hana- 
menu,? 600 m, Henry in 1922 (P); north side of Mt. Teme- 
tiu, PES (A & M) 146 (UC, BISH as MbA) (a small leafed 
form); Atuona Valley, 1100 m, PES Ex 140 (BISH); Tei- 
huonui, 3400 ft [1000-1200 m], PES (A & M) 498 (NY). 
Alyxia Banks ex R. Brown 
Alyxia Banks ex R. Brown, Prodr. 469, 1810 [nom. cons.]. 
Cynopogon J. R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen. 18, 1775; 35, t.18, 
1776. 
Twining vines or shrubs, leaves opposite or 
whorled, usually rather small, flowers in small axil- 
lary pedunculate cymes, corollas small, salverform, 
fruit a pair of subglobose carpels, each with a 
single stone or with two or more moniliformly 
arranged stones, the whole often reduced by abor- 
tion to one drupe or an end-to-end pair of drupes. 
An important Indo-Pacific genus, centered in 
Malesia and New Caledonia, with at least one 
representative in almost every high island in Poly- 
nesia and Micronesia. 
Alyxia stellata (J. R. & G. Forster) Roemer & 
Schultes 
Alyxia stellata (J. R. & G. Forster) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. 
Gynopogon stellaturn J. R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen., 18, 1775; 
Veg. 4:439, 1819. 
36, 1776.-Forster f., Prodr. 19, 1786. 
Alyxia stellata, described from the Society Islands 
and Tonga, extends in various forms from at least 
as far west as New Caledonia to the Marquesas and 
Henderson Island. It is supposedly distinguished 
from A. scandens (also from Polynesia but not 
known from the Marquesas) by ternate vs. opposite 
leaves, but these occur too often on the same plant. 
It seems to be more reliably distinguished from 
A. scandens by considerably smaller flowers. 
F. Brown (1935:230-231) placed all Marquesan 
material in his f. marquesensis, while admitting its 
variability. Three varieties are now recognized from 
the Marquesas. 
Key to the Marquesan Varieties of Alyxia stelluta 
var. deckcri 
2 
1. Leaves ovate, subcordate to cordate at base 
1. Leaves broadly elliptic to lanceolate, not at all cordate but obtuse to acute at base 
2. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate 
2. Leaves broadly elliptic 
Alyxiu stelluta var. deckeri Fosberg & Sachet 
Alyxia stellata var. deckeri Fosberg & Sachet, Micronesica, 
10:254, 1974. 
Leaves broadly ovate, subcordate to cordate, 
cymes 4 cm long, flowers about 6 mm long, fruit 
segments subglobose, 10 X 12 mm, black. 
Known only from high elevations of Hiva?oa, in 
cloud forest. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-HiVaOa I.: Atuona-Feani Trail, crest of 
ridge, 1200-1300 m, Sachet dr Decker 1151 (US, type, P, Fo, 
BISH, NY, K). 
Alyxia stelluta var. fatuhivensis Fosberg & Sachet 
Alyxia stellata var. fatuhivensis Fosberg & Sachet, Microne- 
sica, 10:254, 1974. 
var. fatuhivensis 
var. marquesetasis 
Alyxia stellata f. marquesensis F. Brown, Flora, 230, 1935 
[pro parte]. 
Leaves elliptic lanceolate, acuminate at apex, 
Known only from Fatuiva. 
attenuate at base, up to 6 X 1.8 cm. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-FatUiVa I.: 600 m, Brown 932 (BISH). 
Alyxia stellata var. marquesensis (F. Brown) 
Fosberg & Sachet 
Alyxia stellata var. marquesensis (F. Brown) Fosberg & Sa- 
chet, Micronesica, 10:253, 1974. 
Alyxia stellata f. marquesensis F. Brown, Flora, 230, 1935 
[pro parte]. 
Shrubby vine; leaves in whorls of 3, coriaceous, 
broadly elliptic, venation obscure to visible, apex 
22 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
somewhat acuminate but with tips rounded, bases 
rounded to acute, margins closely revolute; cymes 
about 1 cm long (to 2-2.5 cm in old fruiting speci- 
mens) 3-5 flowered; sepals triangular-ovate, puber- 
ulent, orange; corolla greenish yellow; drupes sub- 
globose, about 1 cm long, black. 
Most of the Marquesan material is rather uni- 
formly like the above description. Found in forest 
from dry areas to cloud forest on wet crests. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: s.1. Quayle 1323 (BISH), 
200-1000 m, Brown 5624 (BISH). Ooumu Mt., 3500 ft [1150- 
1250 m] PES (M 6. A) 583 (BISH, NY as AhM, P). Spur of 
summit ridge, 1000 m, about 5 krn SW of Tapuaooa shelter, 
Gillett 2I95 (BISH, US); Tovii, Halle 2090 (US). 
Uahuka I.: s.1. Quayle 1721 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: Feani, 1200-1300 m, Sachet & Decker 1151 (US). 
Vaiee Tanaeka Valley, 250 m, PES (M G A) 428 (NY, LeB); 
Hanahoo, PES (M 6. A) 362 (BISH, UC, LeB) (leaves to 8 
cm long). 
Mohotani I.: Momoei, 300 m, PES (M 6. A) 538 (BISH, NY 
as AdrM, LeB). 
ETHNOB0TANY.-species of Alyxia were as impor- 
tant in the Marquesas to make fragrant garlands 
(hei) as in Tahiti and Hawaii. The Marquesan 
name is meie (meie papa in Fatuiva). F. Brown 
mentions also mehe but this is probably a different 
plant, possibly Morindu umbellata. Jardin (1857: 
297, 314) lists an Alyxia but, from the name (Katea) 
cited, this is more likely a species of Wikstroemia. 
Catharanthus G. Don 
Catharanthus G. Don, Gen. Hist. Dichl. PI., 4:95, 1838. 
Vincu L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5, 98, 1754 [=1753] [pro parte]. 
Lochnera Reichenbach, Consp., 134, 1828. 
Herbs with opposite thin leaves, terminal corym- 
biform cymes of flowers, corollas salverform, fruit 
of two narrowly linear follicles becoming axillary 
as they mature. 
A small genus native to South Asia and Mada- 
gascar, formerly considered a part of Yinca L., from 
which it differs in habit, position of inflorescence, 
and form of corolla. One species has become pan- 
tropical in cultivation and readily establishes itself 
in weedy disturbed places. 
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don 
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, Gen. Hist. Dichl. Pl., 4:95, 
1838. 
Vinca rosea L., Syst., ed. 10, 944, 1759.-F. Brown, Flora, 234, 
Lochnera rosea (L.) Reichenbach, Consp. 134, 1828 . 
1935. 
Erect herb, up to 0.5 m tall, leaves thin, oblong, 
obtuse, flowers showy, rose, white, or white with a 
red eye. 
One of the most ubiquitous tropical plants, 
reputed to have important medical properties. Said 
to be originally from Madagascar. All three color 
forms planted in gardens in the Marquesas and 
frequently naturalized. 
(P). 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-MarqUeSaS IsIands: Herbier S.F.I.M. 170 
Nukuhiva I.: Savntier 735 (P). 
Uahuka I.: Vaipae?e village, Decker 1662 (US); Hane Vil- 
lage, 10 m. Decker 1951 (US). 
Uapou I.: Hoho?i Valley, everywhere, mauve or white, 
Lavondes 14 (US); west flank of Hakahetau, only one seen, 
50-250 m. Decker 2258 (US). 
Hivaoa I.: Weedy roadside near beach at Atuona, 1-2 m, 
escaped from cultivation, Sachet 1205 (US, P, BISH, UH); 
Atuona, escaped from cultivation, Decker 399 (US, BISH, 
UC, P): among rocks of seashore (obviously escaped from 
cultivation), PES (M G A) I22 (pink), 116 (white, red eye) 
(both BISK, LeB); PES Ex 116 (BISH); Puamau, house yard, 
100-200 ft [30-70 m], Decker 538 (US); dry slopes between 
Nahoe and Eiaone, 100-300 ft [SO-100 m], Decker 617 (BISH, 
US); Hanamenu, near marsh back of beach, Decker 1330 
(US, Fo). 
LOCAL NAMES.-f%l-eVUi (borrowing from the 
French, pemenche) (Lavondes 24), tihapai (PES 
122). English: Madagascar periwinkle. 
Cerbera L. 
Cerbera L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5, 98, 1754 [=1753]. 
Shrubs or small trees, leaves crowded at ends of 
branches, spirally arranged; cymes terminal, fre- 
quently with conspicuous pale green bracts; corol- 
las salverform, throat narrow or somewhat dilated; 
fruit a pair of ovoid drupes, stones covered with 
spine-like fibers. 
An Indo-Pacific genus, one species extending to 
Polynesia. 
Cerbera manghm L. 
Cerbera manghas L., Sp. P1, 1:208, 1753.-Jardin, Mem. SOC. 
Sci. Nat. Cherbourg, 5:297, 314,1857.-Jouan, Mem. SOC. Sci. 
Nat. Cherbourg, 11: 114, 1865.-F. Brown, Flora, 236, 1935. 
Cerbera odolfa [sic] sensu Drake, 111. 233, 1892; Flore, 123- 
NUMBER 28 
23 
124, 1892 [non C. odollam, Gaertner, Fruct., 2:193, t. 124, 
17911. 
Small tree, leaves elliptic, tending to be some- 
what acuminate, bright, glossy green; inflorescence 
a corymbiform cyme with rather showy bracts, 
calyx conspicuous, corollas salverform, about 2.5 
cm or more across, white with red ?eye;? fruit 
usually reduced to one drupe, this large, oval, pen- 
dent on a cord-like peduncle and pedicel, dull 
purplish when ripe, obtuse or rounded to some- 
what pointed at apex. 
A strand plant, but extending onto higher 
ground, distributed from Indonesia to southeastern 
Polynesia, north to the Carolines. Often confused 
with Cerbera odollam, from farther west, in Ma- 
laysia and South Asia. The latter differs in having 
a shorter corolla with yellow eye and a swelling 
at the middle of the tube. 
SrEabims SEEN.-Marquesas Islands: ?/re?s commun,? Her- 
bier S.F.I.M. 179 (P); Dupelit Thottars 54 (P, 3 sheets, US), 
Nukuhiva I.: Hombron in 1841 (P); LeBatard 23 (P, 2 
sheets); foothills of N. mt., 2500 ft [600-700 m], Quayle 1304 
(BISH, 2 sheets): on ridge facing mts., 1200 ft [300-400 m], 
Quayle 1326 (BISH, 2 sheets); s.I., 1000 m, Brown 428 (BISH); 
800 m, Brown 402 (BISH); 1 mi [2 km] from junction of 
Tovii trail and Taiohae trail, east part of plateau, Decker 
200 (BISH, US, UC, P); Taiohae-Tapuaooa trail, 650 m, 
Gillett 2204 (US). 
12 (P). 
Uahuka I.: Quayle 1707 (BISH). 
Uapou I.: Quayle 1069 (BISH); 1127 (BISH); Hoho?i Val- 
ley, Lavondes 19 (US); Pou Maka, Halle 2039 (US). 
Hivaoa 1.: above Atuona, 500 m, PES Ex 3 (BISH); Atuona, 
above village, Sachet 1328 (US, P, BISH); Pouau, native for- 
est, 500 m, PES 3 (LeB, fragments); between Nahoe and 
Eiaone, 100-300 ft [30-100 m], Decker 611 (US); above Hana- 
menu, ridge above Anatuakina cave, 1000-2000 ft [300-600 
m] Decker 1247 (US, Fo). 
Tahuata I.: Halle 2158 (US). 
ETHNOB0TANY.-The Marquesan name is eva. 
The fruit is very poisonous and the seed was 
formerly used to commit suicide or dispatch ene- 
mies. The latex (epau) is cooked and used as bird 
lime (Lavondds 29), and other parts of the plant 
have medicinal uses. 
Neiosperma Rafinesque 
Neiosperma Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 162, 1838. 
Ochrosia Auct. [pro parte, non Jussieu, Gen. PI., 144, 17891. 
Trees or large shrubs with whorled or opposite 
leaves, cymes terminal, becoming axillary, of rather 
inconspicuous flowers; corollas salverform, unap- 
pendaged; fruit of two oval terete drupes with 
stones covered by spine-like fibers embedded in 
thin flesh; seeds flat, imbricate. 
A small genus, Indo-Pacific in distribution, by 
many authors included in Ochrosia Jussieu. 
Neiosperma broionii Fosberg & Sachet 
Neiospertna brownii Fosberg & Sachet, Micronesica, 8:49, 
Ochrosia pamiflora sensu F. Brown, Flora, 160, 1935 [pro 
1972. 
parte including pl. SB]. 
Glabrous tree 10 m tall; leaves opposite and in 
whorls of three, obovate-cuneate, obtuse, 5.5 X 14.5 
cm, margins tightly revolute, veins prominent be- 
neath, visible above, 17 pairs, 6-10 mm apart, with 
a weaker vein and an inconspicuous network 
between each two, petiole to 3 cm long; young 
cymes in axils of terminal whorl of leaves, 7 cm 
long, loosely 3 times trichotomous, scale-like bracts 
very reduced; mature flowers unavailable; fruits 
terete, 22-24 mm thick, possibly 4 cm long, flesh 
red, endocarp strongly fibrous-spinulose. 
Known only from the type-specimen. 
SPECIhlEN SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: 900 m, Brown 541 (BISH, 
tYPe). 
Neiosperma oppositifolia (Lamarck) Fosberg & 
Sachet 
Neiosperrna oppositifolia (Lamarck) Fosberg & Sachet, Micro- 
Cerbera oppositifolia, Lamarck, Encycl. Meth., 1:62, 1783. 
Ochrosia oppositifolia (Lamarck) K. Schumann, in Engler and 
nesica 8:48, 1972. 
Prantl, Nat. Pfl., 4(2):156, 1895. 
A sparsely branched umbrella-shaped tree, leaves 
large, obovate with rounded or obtuse apices, 
cymes paniculate open: corolla tube swollen near 
top, lobes white, narrow; fruit about 7 cm long, 
3 cm thick, abruptly acuminate, yellow, or 
?rousseatre? according to Lamarck, when ripe. 
Not definitely known from the Marquesas, but 
likely to occur in coastal areas. F. Brown?s (1935: 
232) report of Ochrosia parvipora was based on a 
mixture of material of Neiosperma brownii, 
Ochrosia fatuhivensis, and 0. nukuhivensis. 
24 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
Nerium L. 
Nerium L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 99, 1754[=1753]. 
Shrubs or small trees with milky sap: leaves 
whorled, linear-lanceolate, coriaceous; cymes ter- 
minal, corymbiform; sepals with glands inside at 
base; corolla with scales in throat, anthers appen- 
daged at base and apex: fruit a pair of closely 
coherent linear follicles, seeds comose. 
Native from the Mediterranean to South Asia, 
widely planted as ornamentals; violently poisonous 
when eaten, and even capable of producing a rash 
on contact. 
Nerium oleander L. 
Nerium oleander L., Sp. PI., 209, 1753.-Jouan, Mem. Soc.
Sci. Nat. Cherbourg, 11:114, 1865. 
Large bushy shrubs; leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, 
well separated on sparsely branched stems; flowers 
showy, in cymes, corolla with toothed or somewhat 
lacerate appendages in throat; follicles terete, 
drooping, 20 or more cm long; seeds with a tuft of 
hairs. 
Native from the Mediterranean region to the 
Indus ValIey, a component of broad-sclerophyll 
vegetation; cultivated in most warm countries. Two 
common cultivated varieties, apparently indistin- 
guishable when sterile, proliferated into series of 
horticultural selections of cultivars, differing in 
color and number of corolla segments. Jouan saw 
several magnificent plants in Nukuhiva (Taiohae) 
around 1856. It is called rorie, a borrowing from 
the French laurier rose. 
Nerium oleander L. var. oleander 
Flowers essentially odorless, the corolla salver- 
form, with short tube and lacerate scales in throat, 
white to pink or rarely red. 
ft [30-70 m], Decker 571 (US) (white). 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Hivaoa I.: Puarnau, house yard, 100-200 
Nerium oleander var. indicum (Miller) Degener 81 
Greenwell 
Nerium oleander var. indicum (Miller) Degener & Green- 
well, Flora Hawaiiensis, 305; N.0.i. 7,/25/?52. 
Nerium indicum Miller, Gard. Dict., ed. 8, 1768. 
Nerium odorum Aiton, Hort. Kew. 1:297, 1789.-F. Brown, 
Flora 235, 1935. 
Flowers very fragrant, corollas usually double, 
the segments somewhat mucronate, usually a rich 
rose color, rarely white. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: s.l., Brown 950 (BISH) pos- 
sibly this, but indeterminable; Taiohae village, bay front, 
Decker 2247 (US) (flower rose). 
Uahuka I.: Vaipae?e village, school yard, Decker 1691 ?(US) 
(corolla rose). 
Ochrosia Jussieu 
Ochrosia Jussieu, Gen. PI., 144, 1789. 
Shrubs and small trees, lactiferous; leaves whorled: 
cymes axillary or apparently terminal, several times 
dichotomous or trichotomous, branches may be- 
come elongate, zig-zag; corolla salverform, unappen- 
daged, in bud slightly to strongly contorted: fruit 
of 2 divergent drupes, at least stones dorsiventrally 
compressed, surface smooth or with large cavities. 
A large Indo-Pacific genus, mainly insular, ex- 
tending from the Mascarenes to the Marquesas and 
Hawaii, with two endemic species in the Marquesas. 
Ochrosia fatuhivensis Fosberg & Sachet 
Ochrosia fatuhiuensis Fosberg & Sachet, Miaonesica, 8:48, 
Ochrosia pamiflora sensu F. Brown, Flora, 22, 1935 [pro 
1972. 
parte, non (Forster f.) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 4:99, 18381. 
Glabrous tree 10 m tall; leaves whorled, oblong- 
elliptic, 3.5 X 7.5 cm, sharply acuminate, veins 
visible above, about 14 or 15 pairs, with weaker 
ones and network between; cymes terminal in 3?s 
and single in upper axils, 2-3 cm long, twice trichot- 
omous, flowers crowded or glomerate; sepals im- 
bricate, ovate, obtuse, about 2 mm long; corolla in 
unopened bud cylindric, pointed, strongly con- 
torted to left. 
Possibly related to 0. cornpta K. Schumann of 
Hawaii. Known only from the type-specimen. 
type). 
SPECIMEN SEEN.-FatUiVa I.: Oia, 800 m, Brown 886 (BISH, 
Ochrosia nukuhivensis Fosberg & Sachet 
Ochrosia nukuhiuensis Fosberg PC Sachet, Micronesica 8:48, 
1972. 
NUMBER 23 25 
Ochrosia parvipora sensu F. Brown, Flora, 232, 1935 [pro 
parte, non (Forster f.) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 4:99, 18381. 
Glabrous tree; leaves in whorls of 3, blades 5 X 
15 cm, elliptic, tapering to both ends, veins visible 
on both surfaces, widely divergent, about 5 mm 
apart, with an anastomosing network between; 
petioles 3 cm long; young cymes to 2.5 cm long, 
loosely branched about 3 times; in bud only, sepals 
less than 1 mm high, very obtuse, wider than high, 
corolla in bud 7 mm long, tube 5 mm, lobes 
slightly twisted to left, fruit unavailable. 
Probably related to 0. tahitensis Lanessan. 
Known only from the type-specimen. 
SPECIMEN SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: Mauu, Brown 432 (BISH, 
type). 
Plumeria L. 
Plumeria L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 99, 1754 [=I7531 
Shrub or small semideciduous trees with leaves 
and cymes clustered at ends of very thick branches; 
cymes corymbiform, corollas showy, salverform- 
funnelform, without appendages; anthers obtuse; 
fruit a pair of large rather woody divaricately diver- 
gent follicles. 
An American genus, of which two species are 
among the commonest and showiest tropical orna- 
mentals and are prized for their fragrant flowers. 
The less frequently cultivated Plumeria obtusa L., 
with dark green, leathery, obtuse leaves and white 
flowers, is found in Tahiti and may be expected in 
the Marquesas. 
Plumeria rubra L. 
Plumeria rubra L., Sp. PI., 209, 1753. 
Plumeria acutifolia Poiret, Encycl. Method. Suppl., 2667, 
Plumeria acuminafa Aiton f., Hort. Kew., ed. 2, 2:70, 1811.- 
1811. 
F. Brown, Flora, 130:234, 1935. 
Semideciduous small tree, with abundant white 
latex; leaves petiolate, elliptic, somewhat acumi- 
nate, pale beneath, with conspicuous veins, the 
secondary veins connected by a marginal vein that 
arches between them; flowers with oval spreading 
corolla lobes, very fragrant. 
The ?Frangipani,? a pantropical ornamental 
with many color forms, from deep red through 
pink, yellow, to white. Planted in gardens and in 
graveyards throughout the Pacific Islands. 
SPECIMENS SEsN.-Nukuhiva I.: Low elevation, Brown 749 
(BISH); Taiohae, low elevation, Brown 766 (BISH). 
Uahuka I.: Vaipae?e Village. Decker 1678 (US) (flowers yel- 
low and white, fragrant). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona Valley, blaue, garden, 15 m PES (M & 
A) 451 (BISH) (flower white, yellow center). Atuona, seen in 
gardens and in graveyard on Gauguin?s tomb, Sachet in 
1963, flowers white and deep pink. 
ETHNOBOTANY.-F1owers used in garlands and 
crowns. Tipanie, a rendition of frangipani or fran- 
gipanier, is the name in Tahiti and the Marquesas. 
Tabernaemontana L. 
Tabernasmontana L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5, 100, 1754 [=1753]. 
Ervafamia (A. de Candolle) Stapf, in Dyer, F1. Trop. Afr., 
Tabernaemontana sect. Ervatamia A. de Candolle, Prodr. 
4(1):126, 1902. 
8:373. 1844. 
Shrubs, leaves opposite, flowers in open cymose 
panicles; calyx small, glandular within at base; 
corolla salverform, contorted to left in bud, un- 
appendaged; ovary of 2 carpels, many ovules in a 
locule; style filiform; fruit of 2 follicles, dry or 
fleshy, seeds arillate. 
A rather large tropical genus, divided by some 
authors into a number of poorly defined or at 
least very similar genera. One or two species are 
commonly cultivated as ornamentals in tropical 
countries, one of these in Marquesan gardens. 
Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Brown ex 
Roemer & Schultes 
Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Brown ex Roemer & 
Schultes, Syst. Veg. 4:427, 1819.-F. Brown, Flora, 234, 1935. 
Nerium divaricatum L., Sp. Pl., 209, 1753. 
Tabernaemontana coronaria (Jacquin) Willdenow, Enum. 
Nerium coronaririm Jacquin, Coll. 1:138, 1786 [= 17871; Icon. 
Ervatamia coronaria (Jacquin) Stapf, in Thistleton-Dyer, F1. 
Ervatamia divaricata (L.) Burkill, Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 10: 
Hort. Berol. 1:275, 1809. 
PI. Rar., 5, t. 52, 1781-1786 [=1787]. 
Trop. Afr. 4(1):127, 1902. 
320, 1925. 
Shrub with rather elliptic glossy, dark green 
leaves, margins tending to be wavy, panicles small, 
calyx small with few glands; corolla large (in culti- 
26 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
vated forms), white, 2-3 cm or more across, usually 
double, with almost no odor, follicles dry, oblong, 
with recurved beaks, rarely seen in cultivated plants. 
Commonly planted; somewhat gardenia-like in 
appearance. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-HiVaOa I.: Atuona, shady garden, Sachet 
1251 (US): PES (M k* A) 405 (BISH, LeB); PES Ex 313 
(BISH). 
ETHNOB0TANY.-The Tahitian name tiare moorea 
(Moorea gardenia, or flower) is also used in the 
Marquesas. 
Thevetia L. 
Thmetia L., Opera varia (Soulsby no. 9), 212, 1758 [nom. 
cons.]. 
Small tree densely branched, leaves a1 ternate, 
corolla narrowly campanulate; fruit a soft broadly 
obovoid drupe with a trapezoidal flat stone. 
A tropical American genus with one or two 
widely planted species. 
Thevetiu peruvianu (Persoon) K. Schumann 
Theuetia peruuiana (Persoon) K. Schumann in Engler and 
Prantl, Nat. Pflanz. 4(2):159, 1895. 
Cerbera peruuiana Persoon, Syn. Pl., 1:267, 1805. 
Cerbera theuetia L., Sp. PI., 209, 1753. 
Theuetia neriifolia Jussieu ex Steudel, Nom. Bot., ed. 2, 
2:680, 1841 [as nereifolia].--A. de Candolle, Prodr., 8:343, 
1844.-F. Brown, Flora, 235, 1935 [as nereifolia]. 
Leaves linear, green on both sides, veins obscure; 
corolla bright yellow (or, in forma aztrantiaca, 
salmon color), limb not strongly flaring. 
The plant is considered poisonous and the seeds 
contain the powerful drug, thevetin. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Nukuhiva I.: Brown 714 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona, roadside near sea-level, PES (M & A) 
335 (BISH, LeB), PES Ex 335 (BISH). 
ASCLEPIADACE AE 
Vines, rarely shrubs or herbs, usually lactiferous, 
leaves usually opposite or whorled, simple, exstipu- 
late, inflorescence often umbelloid, calyx united at 
least at base, corolla united, an elaborately devel- 
oped corona frequently present, stamens 5, fila- 
ments usually connate, anthers closely united in a 
ring around the pistil, pollen fused in waxy masses 
or pollinia (in subfamily Periplocoideae in tetrads); 
pistil of two free carpels united by a sessile stigma; 
fruit of two separate follicles, usually many seeded; 
seeds usually comose. 
This important tropical family is represented 
in the Marquesas only by one introduced weedy 
species of Asclepias, sometimes planted as an 
ornamental. 
Asclepias L. 
Asclepias L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5, 102, 1754 [=1753]. 
Erect herbs with mostly opposite leaves, umbels 
terminal or subterminal, flowers rotate or broadly 
campanulate, with showy corona usually ornament- 
ed with hoods or horns, hiding the anthers, stigma 
fleshy, seeds with a conspicuous coma of hairs at 
one end. 
A mostly temperate and subtropical genus, with 
one species widely dispersed in the tropics as an 
ornamental or weed. 
Asclepias curassavica L. 
Asclepias curassavica L., Sp. Pl., 215, 1753.-Jardin, Mem.
SOC. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg, 5:297, 314, 1857.-Jouan, Mem. 
SOC. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg, 11:114, 1865.-Drake, Ill., 235, 
1892; Flore, 127, 1892.-F. Brown, Flora, 237, 1935. 
Slender herb to 1 m tall, leaves thin, lanceolate, 
corolla reddish orange, coronas orange, follicles 
narrowly fusiform, smooth. 
A Mexican species, widespread in the Pacific 
Islands, originally planted in gardens, now natural- 
ized in disturbed weedy places. In the Marquesas 
it is occasionally seen, but is generally uncommon. 
SPEcrhiEHs Smii.--hlarquesas Islands: Herb. S.F.I.M. 20 (P). 
Eiao I.: Common, Jones 15424 (BISH); plateau above 
Vaituha Bay, Decker 227 (BISH, US, UC, P). 
Nukuhiva I.: Savatier 1975 (P); above Uea Valley, 150-200 
m, Decker 2032 (US): Hakaui, Brown 771 (BISH). 
Uahuka I.: Upper Ha'avei Valley, 200-250 m, Decker 1484 
(US, BISII, Fo) Vaipae'e, 50 m, Decker 1762 (US): Brown 
I818 (BISH); Quagle 1722 (BISH). 
Uapou I.: Brou'n 1091 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona, 800 m, rare, PES Ex il (BISH); Tepehi 
(above Hanamenu), exposed hillside, 600 m, PES (iff G A) 
420 (BISH); Natue Valley, 0-100 ft 10-30 m], Decker 1233 
(US); Atuona, Brouv 3i7 (BISH); Hana Japa, Quayle 1635 
(BISH). 
Fatuiva I.: Omoa, Brown 996 (BISH). 
NUMBER 23 27 
ETHNoB0TANY.-According to Jouan, this plant 
was introduced into Tahiti in 1839 and into the 
Marquesas (Nukuhiva) at the very beginning of 
the French occupation in 1842, and was spreading 
around Taiohae when he left in 1856. Jardin said 
the Marquesans made soft cushions from the seed 
plumes. Both give the name ?Kirika,? a borrowing 
from the English ?silk.? Related names are Kirita 
(Decker 1762), puakirita (Herb. S.F.Z.M. 20), and 
tiru wu vaikirita (PES Ex 71). Still other names: 
?herbe de hlme Boivin,? LeBronnec (MS) and F. 
Brown (1935:237) cite also vevai from Fatuiva. 
CONVOLVULACEAE 
Herbaceous or woody twiners or creepers, rarely 
erect herbs, shrubs or, very rarely, trees, frequently 
lactiferous, but not copiously so; leaves alternate, 
frequently cordate, hastate or sagittate, simple but 
occasionally deeply divided or palmatifid, rarely 
pinnately divided or even apparently palmately 
compound; stipules none; calyx of 5 free sepals; 
corolla sympetalous, not ordinarily deeply divided; 
stamens 5, attached to corolla near base, or part 
way up tube; ovary superior, 2-4 celled with 4 
basal ovules, style usually single, filiforrn, rarely 2 
and branched; stigmas 1-3, thickened, fruit a 2-, 
3-, or 4-celled dehiscent or indehiscent capsule, 
rarely fleshy, spongy, or corky, cells 3- or 4-seeded. 
An important tropical family with a few tem- 
perate members; includes many widespread pio- 
neers and weedy species, as well as tropical forest 
lianas. 
Key to Marquesan Genera of Convolvulaceae 
I. Anthers coiled, pollen not spinulose, corolla funnelform with tube included in calyx, epicarp 
in fruit circumscissile, lid caducous, leaving a transparent circular window in endocarp 
showing locules with seeds Operculina 
2. Leakes black-punctate beneath, corolla light purple, 8-10 cm long, fruiting calyx spongy, 
tightly and completely enclosing fruit when mature Stictocmdio 
2. Leaves not black-punctate beneath, corolla, if 8 cm or more long, white, fruiting calyx 
1. Anthers straight, pollen spinulose, corolla various 2 
opening at maturity and exposing fruit 
Zpomoea L. 
Ipomoea L., Gen. PI., ed. 5, 76, 1754 [=1753]. 
Calonyction Choisy, Mem. SOC. Phys. Hist. Nat. Geneve, 
Quamoclit Moench, Meth., 453, 1794. 
Batatas Choisy, Mem. SOC. Phys. Hist. Nat. Geneve, 6:434, 
6:441, 1833. 
1833. 
Twining herbaceous to woody vines, rarely erect 
herbs; leaves simple, usually cordate, entire to 
deeply divided, petiolate; peduncles axillary; co- 
rolla narrowly funnelform or companulate, regular 
to somewhat zygomorphic, entire to somewhat 5- 
lobed, plicate in bud, median lines heavy, inter- 
vening areas membranous; anthers included or 
exserted, straight; pollen grains spinulose; style 1, 
filiform, elongate, stigmas globose, 1, 2, or 3; fruit 
a capsule, dehiscent in 4 valves or irregularly. 
A large pantropical and warm-temperate genus, 
found on almost all Pacific islands including the 
Marquesas; many of the species widespread and 
weedy, found on beaches and in disturbed places, 
Ipomoea 
a few found in lowland forests. General English 
name: ?morning-glory.?? 
Zpomoea alba L. 
Ipomoea alba L., Sp. PI., 161, 1753. 
Conuoluulus aculeatus L., Sp. PI., 155, 1753 [non Ipomoea 
aculeata Blume]. 
fpomoea bona-nox L., Sp. PI., ed. 2, 228, 1762 [nom. illegit. 
superfl.]. 
Calonyction bona-nox (L.) Bojer, Hort. Maur., 227, 1837.- 
F. Brown, Flora, 238, 1935. 
Calonyction speciosurn Choisy, Mem. SOC. Phys. Hist. Nat. 
Geneve 6:441, t. 1, f. 4, 1833.-Jardin, Mem. SOC. Sci. Nat. 
Cherbourg, 5:297, 315, 1857.-Delmas, in Dordillon, Dict. 
Marqu. 2585, 1932 [sub pohue]. 
Cafonyction aculeatum (L.) House, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 
31:590, 1904. 
Calonyction album (L.) House, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 31: 
590, 1904. 
Extensive usually glabrous liana, lower stems 
thick but scarcely woody, frequently more or less 
beset with fleshy spine-like processes; leaves cor- 
28 
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
Key to Marquesan Species of Zpomoea 
1. Leaves bilobed at apex .......................................................................... 1. pescaprae ssp. brasiliensis 
1. Leaves not bilobed at apex ........................................................................................................... 2 
2. Leaves entire or lobed, stamens included ................................................................................... 3 
3. Sepals lanceolate, conspicuously acuminate, over 1 cm long ............................................ 
3. Sepals oblong, elliptic, ovate, or orbicular, not long-acuminate ..................................... 4 
4. Inner sepals not conspicuously broad toward apex or subtruncate, usually oblong 
to orbicular or ovate ........................................................................................................ 5 
5. Plant a creeper, leaves rather triangular in general outline, entire or variously 
lobed .................................................................................................................... I. batatas 
5. Plant a twiner or climber, leaves more or less orbicular or triangular-ovate, 
2. Leaves pinnately dissected, flowers red, stamens exserted ............................. ..I. quamlit 
................................................................. 1. indica [not definitely known from the Marquesas] 
4. Inner sepals broad toward apex, subtruncate ................................................ I. littoralis 
strongly cordate ............................................................................................................ 6 
6. Slender vine, sepals 34 mm long, corolla up to 2.5 cm long ........ ..I. obscura 
6. Coarse extensive vines or, if slender, leaves triangular-ovate and strongly 
acuminate, sepals well Over 6 mm long ......................................................... 7 
7. Leaves notably longer than wide, corolla 5-35 cm long, purple .................. 
I. tiliacea var. merremioides 
8. Stem usually with small fleshy spine-like processes, sepals strongly 
8. Stem usually smooth, sepals rounded at apex, at most very slightly 
..................................................................................... 
7. Leaves nearly orbicular, coarse vines, corolla well over 5 cm long. ........ 8 
mucronate, seeds glabrous .............................................................. 1. alba 
mucronulate, seeds pubescent ..................................... 1. macrantha 
date, entire to somewhat lobed; peduncles axillary, 
1 -several flowered, pedicels often thickened; flow- 
ers slightly zygomorphic, sepals strongly mucronate, 
5-15 mm long, corolla white, open at night, closing 
as the day warms up, up to 15 cm long, funnelform 
but almost salverform, tube well exserted, stamens 
and styles somewhat exserted, stigmas 2, globose; 
capsule ovoid; seeds glabrous. 
Pantropical, said to be of American origin, wide- 
ly cultivated as the ?moon-flower? and frequently 
naturalized; two doubtful collections from the 
Marquesas. Jardin?s record of Calonyction specio- 
sum is probably this species but his specimen 
(179) has not been seen. Delmas? description fits 
this species, which he reports to be rare and often 
confused with Z. macrantha. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-NUkUhiva I.: F. Brown 543 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: Makemake valley, 300 m, PES (hi G A) 22 
ETHNOBOTANY.--POhue (PES 22) is a general 
name for morning-glory lianas in Tahiti and the 
Marquesas. Delmas says it applies to two species of 
Zpomoea besides 1. alba. For the latter, he gives 
pohue nui (large pohue) or pua mahati, and pohue 
mata nui for the large white flower, and mahati 
(BISH, LeB). 
for the whole plant or the seeds used as a purga- 
tive. Jardin records this use and the name mahati 
for his no. 179 (not seen). 
Zpomoea batatus (L.) Lamarck 
Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck, Tabl. Encycl., 1:465, 1791 
[ = 1793].-Endlicher, F1. Sudseeinseln, 173, 1836.-F. Brown, 
Flora, 238, 1935. 
Conuolvulirs batatas L., Sp. PI., 154, 1753. 
Convoludus chrysorrhizirs Solander ex Forster f., PI. Esc., 
55-56, 1786; Prodr. 89, 1786.-Endlicher, F1. Sudseeinseln, 
173, 1836. 
Conuoluulus eduh Thunberg. F1. Jap. 84, 1784. 
Batatas edulis (Thunberg) Choisy, MPm. SOC. Phys. Hist. Nat. 
Geneve 6:435, 1833.-Jardin, Mem. SOC. Sci. Nat. Cher- 
bourg. 5:315. 1857.bjouan, Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg,
11:115, 1865. 
Glabrous creeper with enlarged fusiform edible 
roots, thick stems, not twining; leaves with long 
petioles, blades more or less triangular, acuminate, 
more or less cordate to subtruncate at base, sides 
entire or variously cut or lobed; seldom seen 
flowering; peduncles umbellately or irregularly 
branched at summit into 1-4 short pedicels, bracts 
very small; sepals glabrous, oblong to oblong-ovate, 
NUMBER 23 
up to 8 mm long, obtuse to acute, mucronate; 
corolla light purple, campanulate, 3.54 cm long; 
stamens and style less than half length of corolla. 
Pantropical in cultivation, generally agreed to 
be of American origin. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-NukUhiva I.: Langsdorff cited by Endli- 
cher (1836:173) (not seen, probably in W and/or LE). F. 
Brown 956 (BISH) (leaves entire), 955 (BISH) (leaves deeply 
dissected); 962 (BISH) (leaves deeply dissected). 
Hivaoa I.: Atuona, sea-level, PES (M Q A) 330 (BISH) 
(leaves shallowly 5-lobed); 327 (BISH) (leaves subcordate, 
entire, broader than long); PES Ex 327 (BISH) (leaves very 
wide, 5-lobed, lobes acuminate); Taiaka Papuaei Valley, 
50 m, PES (M h A) 438 (BISH) (leaves ovate-cordate, grad- 
ually long-acuminate with wide u-shaped basal sinus. 
ETHNOB0TANY.-The general names for this spe- 
cies are sweet potato, patate douce, and, in the 
Marquesas, kumaa (Nukuhiva) or urnaa (Hivaoa, 
PES 327, 330, umaa papaoa, PES 438). F. Brown 
(1935:239) gives some names of varieties. So does 
LeBronnec (MS) who lists from Nukuhiva: ?Kumaa 
Alierfon, K. Dore, K. Peaison (these three imported 
by Ch. Henry), K. huahua rnoa, K. Pikino, K. Ra- 
panui, K. Rurutu, K. tavaie,? obviously most of 
these imported from other islands. I was surprised, 
in 1963, to see very few plants of this species in 
Hivaoa and did not collect it. Decker (pers. comm.) 
observed that the very abundant rat populations of 
the islands made it unprofitable to plant sweet 
potatoes, unless they could be watched constantly. 
Other crops requiring less vigilance and hard work 
in clearing the land are planted in preference, even 
though the Marquesans like sweet potatoes very 
much. 
While there is some evidence that the sweet 
potato was present on Easter Island before the 
arrival of Europeans, there is no conclusive proof 
that the same was true in the Marquesas. Indeed 
Mendaiia, who discovered the islands in 1595, 
mentioned neither finding nor planting them there 
(Brand, 1971:357, 359). Identification of plant re- 
mains from an archeological site on Uahuka 
(Kirch, 1973:35) did not include sweet potato. This 
site, excavated by Sinoto and Kellum in 1964, was 
dated (Sinoto, 1966:295, 302) as about mid-12th 
century A.D. None of this proves that the sweet 
potato was not present, of course, and, at any rate, 
it was fairly common at the end of the 19th cen- 
tury. Jardin (1857:315) makes the interesting 
remark that in the 1850s it was beginning to be 
cultivated by natives of Taiohae and Atiheu (Nu- 
kuhiva) not for their own use, but for sale to 
whalers. Jouan (1865:115), who left the Marque- 
sas in 1856, records similar facts, but says that it is 
a recently introduced white variety, which is culti- 
vated by the European residents for sale to whalers, 
a variety different from the generally yellow 
?Camotes? of Peru. Jardin gives the name kumaa, 
but mentions also two other varieties, tifau mei 
and fitau kaikaha. These, however, are varieties of 
yams, Dioscorea. F. Brown (1935:238) discussed uses 
and varieties, but some of his interpretations have 
been discounted by the foremost student of Pacific 
Islands sweet potatoes, Douglas Yen (1971:339). 
Yen (1974) collected 26 specimens from 5 islands in 
the Marquesas as part of his extensive study of the 
biology, genetics, and distribution of this species. 
Zpomoea littoralis Blume 
Ipomoea liltoralis Blume, Bijdr. 713, 1825 [=1826?]. 
Convolvulus dentictrlatus Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encyl. 
Ipomoea den ticulata (Desrousseaux) Choisy, Mem. SOC. Phys. 
Ipomoea forsteri A. Gray in Mann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 7:195, 
Ipomoea gracilis sensu F. Brown et auct. plur. [non R. 
Mkth., 3:540, 1792. 
Hist. Nat. Geneve 6:467, 1833 [non R. Brown, 18101. 
1867.-Drake, Ill., 243, 1892; Flore, 134, 1892. 
Brown, Prodr., 484, 18101. 
Slender glabrous twiner; leaves broadly cordate, 
usually less than 5 cm across, sometimes somewhat 
trilobed, net-venation conspicuous; peduncles short, 
1-several flowered, bracts minute, caducous; sepals 
unequal in width, outer oblongelliptic, inner as 
broad as high, broadest at summit, slightly mu- 
cronate; corolla funnelform to campanulate, bright 
rose-purple, darker in throat, up to 4.5 cm long; 
stamens and style included, stigmas 2, globose; 
capsule glabrous, globose, about 9 mm in diameter; 
seeds black, glabrous. 
Pantropical lowland species usually misidentified 
as I. gracilis R. Brown, a local North Australian 
species. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Marquesas Islands: s.1. Henry 106 (P); 
Herb. S.F.I.M. 106 (P). 
Nukuhiva I.: s.1. Hoinbron in 1841 (US); Taipi Vai, Quayle 
1597 (BISH); Taiohae, 50 m, Broion 623 (BISH); PES (Af Zr 
A) 611 (BISH). 
Hivaoa I.: .4tuona, Brown 1038 (BISH). 
LOCAL NAMES.-F. Brown (1935:240) cites pama- 
30 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
ohe and Herb. S.F.Z.M. 106 bears the name umaha 
papaoa, which is really a variety of sweet potato 
and must be a misapplication. 
Zpomoea macrantha Roemer & Schultes 
Ipornoea macrantha Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg., 4:251, 
Zpornoea Zongiflora R. Brown, Prodr., 1:484, 1810 [non Hum- 
Convolvulus tuba Schlechtendal, Linnaea, 6:735-736, 1831. 
Zpomoea tuba (Schlechtendal) G. Don, Gen. Hist., 4:271, 1838. 
lpornoea glaberrima Bojer ex Bouton, Hook. Journ. Bot., 
1:357, 1834. 
Zpomoea bona-nox [as bona-noa, sphalm.] sensu Delmas in 
Dordillon, Dict. Marqu., ed. 2, 2:585, 1932 [sub pohue]. 
Zpornoea grandiflora sensu F. Brown, Flora, 241, 1935 [non 
(Jacquin) Jackson, 1895, nec Lamarck, 1797, nec Roxburgh, 
1814 (cf. Gunn, Brittonia, 24:153, 170, 1972)]. 
Extensive coarse glabrous twining liana, lower 
parts thickened but not very woody, in very dry 
situations forming a short very thick trunk, which 
annually produces herbaceous elongate stems, 
which die back during the dry seasons; leaves some- 
what fleshy, or not, cordate orbicular, somewhat 
acuminate, to 15 cm across; peduncles 1-few flow- 
ered, cymose, pedicels thickened, or even some- 
what turbinate; sepals orbicular, apex rounded, 
15-25 mm long, accrescent and very thick in fruit; 
corolla white, to 10 cm long, with very long tube 
and flaring limb, opening at night; stamens and 
style included, stigmas 2; capsule globose or sub- 
globose, to 2.5 cm long, enclosed by accrescent 
fleshy sepals, which later become reflexed and dry; 
seeds with black tomentum, long hairs on edges. 
Pantropical species of strand and other lowland 
situations, climbing over thickets and trees; appar- 
ently uncommon in the hlarquesas. 
SrEciMEEjs SEEN.-HatUtaa I.: atop main ridge, 1300 ft 
[400-500 m], Decker 351 (US); very common vine, 10400 m, 
Jones 1550 (BISH). 
1819. 
boldt & Bonpland ex Willdenow, 18091. 
Nukuhiva I.: Hombron in 1841 (P). 
Uahuka I.: 280-300 m, crest of ridge west of Vaipae?e Val- 
ley, occasional, Decker I703 (US, Fo); 40-60 m, ridge on east 
flank of Vaipae?e below Tahoatikikau crater, here common, 
Decker 1748 (US, 2 sheets). 
Uapou I.: Hoho?i valley, not far from the sea, near 
streams, Lavondes 27 (US). 
Hivaoa I.: Eastern Puamau, by trail approximately 200 m 
east of Catholic mission, occasional but conspicuous, Decker 
741 (Fo) sterile, poor specimen probably this species. 
ETHNOBOTANY.-POhue, the general name for 
morning-glory vines is applied to this species 
(Lavondess 27). Delmas cites pohue or pohueiti 
(small pohue, by comparison with I. alba). F. Brown 
gives mahati, probably confusing this species with 
I. alba. Piritai (Decker 1748) should, according to 
Delmas, be applied to I. alba; he notes that the 
two are often confused. 
Fruit used medicinally in some child?s disease, 
and stems used formerly as jumping ropes (Lavon- 
des 27). 
Zpomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawler 
Zpornoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawler, Bot. Reg., 3:239, 1817.- 
Convolvulus obscurus L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 220, 1762. 
F. Brown, Flora, 240, 1935. 
Slender twiner, almost glabrous to notably pilose; 
leaves broadly cordate, acuminate, up to 5 cm in 
diameter, with broad rounded basal sinus, margins 
subentire to finely crenulate, more or less ciliate, 
petioles slender, 2-6.5 cm long; flowers 1-several in 
pedunculate cymes, in each cyme one flower open 
at a time, peduncles 2-5 (or even 10) cm long, 
pedicels 1-1.5 cm, somewhat dilated upward; sepals 
4-6 mm long, elliptic or elliptic ovate to oval or, 
in fruit, orbicular, the inner broader, mucronate; 
corolla campanulate-funnelform, flaring, 1.5-2 cm 
long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad, white or cream to sulfur- 
yellow, with dark purple center; stamens and pistil 
included; capsule subglobose, to 1 cm long, beaked, 
exserted from calyx, firm; seed 2.5 X 3.5 mm, 
plump, dark brown, sericeous tomentose. 
SrEcrarENs SEE&.--NUkllhiVa I.: Eastern Taiohae, 0.5 km \%? 
old Fort Collet, 1-3 m, Decker 2103 (US, BISH). 
Uahuka I.: 10 m, sand dunes Hane Village, yard of hos- 
pital, common, Decker I941 (Fo). 
Hivaoa I.: Miti taua?o?o, hill on SW corner of Puamau 
Bay, 100 ft [30-50 m], here common, Decker 610 (US, P, Fo, 
BISH, UC); central Puamau valley, 5 m, waste places in un- 
cleaned plantation, common, Decker 820 (US, P, Fo, BISH); 
western Puamau, 250 ft [iO-90 m], ravine in coconut planta- 
tion in upper paddock, occasional, Decker 843 (US, P); cen- 
tral Puamau, 700 ft [300-400 m], mixed subsistence and 
copra plantation, mainly of trees, occasional, Decker 1095 
(US, P, UC). 
Zpomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Brown 
Zpomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Brown in Tukey, Narrat. Exped. 
Convolvulus pes-caprae L., Sp. PI., 159, 1753. 
Zaire, 477, Mar. 1818. 
NUMBER 23 
31 
Ssp. pes-caprae of this pantropical strand species 
is not found in the central Pacific, but mostooy in 
the Indian Ocean area. 
Zpomoea pes-caprae ssp. brasiliensis (L.) 
van Ooststroom 
Ipomoea pes-caprae ssp. brasiliensis (L.) van Ooststroom, 
Convolvulus brasiliensis L., Sp. PI., 159, 1753. 
Convolvulus maritimus Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encyl. 
Mkth., 3:550, 1789 [=1792]. 
Ipomoea maritima (Desrousseaux) R. Brown, Prodr., 486, 
1810.-Jardin, Mem. SOC. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg, 5:335, 1857. 
Ipomoea pes-caprue sensu Jouan, Mem. SOC. Sci. Nat. Cher-
bourg, 11: 116, 1865.-Drake, 111. 244, 1892; Flore, 132, 
1892.-Delmas in Dordillon, Dict. hlarqu. 2:585, 1932 [sub 
pohue].-F. Brown, Flora, 240, 1935, and most Pacific au- 
thors [non (L.) R. Brown (vide supra)]. 
Prostrate, coarse, glabrous creeper, tending to 
form dense mats; leaves coriaceous, oblong or oval 
to broadly ovate, normally bilobed or at least 
deeply emarginate at apex, rounded to somewhat 
cordate at base, on stout petioles; peduncles erect, 
stout, with I-several pedicellate flowers disposed in 
cymes; sepals elliptic to orbicular, outer ones nar- 
rower, obtuse, mucronulate, glabrous, up to about 
1 cm long; corolla funnelform to campanulate, 
rose purple, darker in center, 3-5 cm long; stamens 
and style included, stigmas 2, globose; capsule 
globose, 12-15 mm high; seeds densely brown- 
tomentose, dull yellowish when the tomentum is 
worn off. 
Blumea, 3:533, 1940. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-hfarqUeSaS Islands: s.l., Dupetit-Thouars 
8 (P): Herb. S.F.I.M. 79 (P). 
Eiao I.: Plateau above Vaituha Bay, 1500 ft, Decker 206 
(BISH, US, UC, P); windward slopes, Jones 1538 (BISH). 
Nukuhiva I.: Hombron in 1841 (P); Uea Valley, strand 
above shingle beach, 2 m, locally very common, Decker 2028 
(US): Taio Hae Bay, Chapin 748 (NY). 
Uahuka I.: 2 m, strand behind sandy beach, Vaipae?e, very 
common, Decker If9f (US). 
Hivaoa I.: s.I., Brown 378 (BISH); Atuona, PES (M & A) 
119 (BISH, LeB); near Atuona, 300 m, PES Ex 22 (BISH); 
central Puamau strand, just behind beach ridge of shingle, 
very rocky. very common and conspicuous, Decker 776 (BISH, 
US, Fo); Natue, to 100 ft [30 m], long uninhabited valley of 
east of Puamau near Mata Fenua, very common on strand, 
Decker 1228 (US): Atuona, Chapin 752 (NY); Atuona beach, 
forming large mats locally, Sachet 1212 (US, P, UH, Fo). 
LOCAL NAMEs.-one of three species called 
pohue by Delmas and on Herb. S.F.I.AI. 79, PES 
119; pohue and paniaoe by F. Brown, neaho-paoue 
(Dupetit-Thouars 8), paniahoe by Jardin and Jouan. 
Zpomoea quamoclit L. 
Ipomoea quamoclit L., Sp. Pl., 159, 1753. 
Convolvulus pennatus Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encyl. 
hfkth., 3:567, 1791 [=1792]. 
Quamoclit pennata (Desrousseaux) Bojer, Hort. Maur., 224, 
1837 [as pinnata]. 
Quamoclit vulgaris Choisy, Mkm. SOC. Phys. Hist. Nat. 
Genkve 6:434, 1833.-Jardin, hlkm. SOC. Sci. Nat. Cher- 
bourg, 5:297, 1857. 
Slender glabrous twiner; leaves pinnately di- 
vided into linear or filiform lobes; peduncles axil- 
lary, much longer than leaves, 1-several flowered, 
bracts nearly obsolete; pedicels 1-3 cm long, tend- 
ing to be thickened toward apex; sepals oblong, 
obtuse to rounded, mucronate, corolla bright red, 
about 3 cm long, very narrowly funnelform, limb 
short but deeply lobed; capsule ovoid, obtuse at 
apex, glabrous, tending to split rather irregularly, 
valyes thin, seeds glabrous, mottled brownish on 
black. 
Pantropical species cultivated for its feathery 
leaves and small but bright red flowers. 
SPECIMEN RECORDED.-NUkUhiVa I.: ,Jardin 186 (not seen). 
Jardin?s record of Quamoclit vulgaris is probably 
this species, but his collection was not found in 
Paris. There are no other records, but the species 
should be looked for in the Marquesas. 
Zpomoea tiliacea (Willdenow) Choisy 
Ipomoea tiliacea (Willdenow) Choisy in de Candolle, Prodr. 
ConvoZvulus tiliaceus Willdenow, Enum PI., 203, 1809. 
9:375, 1845. 
This species has previously been known from 
the Pacific only from Fiji and Tonga, where it was 
formerly usually called Ipomoea fastigiata (Rox- 
burgh) Sweet. Otherwise it is tropical American. 
The Marquesan collections seem to represent a 
distinctive population with a few characters un- 
common or absent in the variable, widespread 
American species. 
Zpomoea tiliacea var. merremioides Fosberg 
Ipomoea tilincen var. me?-remioides Fosberg, in Fosberg and 
Sachet, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 21:14, 1975. 
32 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 
Glabrous climber but not very conspicuously 
twining, leaves thin, blades triangular-ovate, much 
longer than wide, up to 10 X 5 cm, apex tapering- 
acuminate, base broadly and strongly cordate with 
a U-shaped sinus and rounded basal lobes, petioles 
slender, notably shorter than blades; inflorescence 
umbelloid in appearance but a condensed, once to 
twice ramified, cymose panicle on a long peduncle, 
to 13 cm, pedicels much longer than branches, 
these 1-16 mm, bracts minute, scale-like, sepals 
elliptic or elliptic-oblong to slightly obovate, about 
8 mm long, obtuse, outer ones mucronate, corolla 
funnelform, 3-3.5 cm long, limb only slightly 
flaring, 2.5-3 cm wide, "rose-mauve," stamens in- 
cluded in basal '/s of throat, unequal in length, 
shorter than style, anthers very narrowly sagittate, 
straight, 2-2.5 mm long, filaments subulate, gla- 
brous apically, increasingly beset with short gland- 
tipped hairs below, pollen grains globose, very 
shortly spinulose; pistil 16 mm long, ovary sub- 
globose, glabrous, style filiform, glabrous, stigma 
irregularly capitate, fruit globose, about 5 mm 
high, subtended by an entire disk, usually some- 
what asymmetric, glabrous, beaked with persistent 
short style-base, this somewhat off-center, only one 
seed developed, this shot-like, 4 mm across, with 
2 basal somewhat flattened areas edged on outer 
parts with sparse brown wool, scar light brown, 
obovate, surrounded by horse-shoe-shaped very low 
ridge, general seed-surface dull sooty brown. 
The Marquesan specimens differ from those of 
Fiji and Tonga, as well as from the vast majority 
of the American ones, in being glabrous, in the 
much smaller much more funnelform, less flaring 
corollas, enlarging abruptly above the calyx, the 
abruptly short-mucronate rather than more grad- 
ually acuminate-aristate sepals, the usually much 
longer peduncles, and the entire, long-acuminate 
leaves rather than more or less orbicular, dentate 
or lobed. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.-Hivaoa I.: Atikoua valley, above Atuona, 
20-100 m, Sachet 1300 (US, type, P, UH); upper Puamau- 
Atuona trail, 500650 m, Decker 1157 (US); Puamau-Eiaone 
divide, top of ridge, 300 m, Decker 932 (US); Central Pua- 
mau, 800-1000 ft [250-350 m], common, Decker 1072 (US, P, 
Fo, UC). 
Operculina Manso 
Operculina Manso, Enum. Subst. Braz., 16, 1836. 
Coarse twining vines; leaves large, cordate; cymes 
axillary, pedunculate, bracteate; sepals usually 
accrescent; corolla broadly funnelform to campanu- 
late; stamens included, adnate to corolla tube, an- 
thers becoming spirally twisted; style 1, included, 
stigmas 2, globose; ovary 2-celled, 2 ovules in a 
cell; fruit a capsule, the epicarp circumscissile, sep- 
arating from the persistent transparent endocarp, 
this eventually breaking irregularly. 
A small pantropical genus with two species in 
the Pacific, one native and widespread reaching the 
Marquesas. 
Operculina turpethum (L.) Manso 
Operculina turpethum (L.) Manso, Enum. Subst. Braz., 16, 
Convolvulus turpethum L., Sp. PI., 155, 1753. 
1836. 
Coarse subglabrous twiner with angled to winged 
stems (Marquesan specimens weakly angled, not 
winged); leaves elongate triangular with slightly 
liastate base to orbicular cordate, with broad basal 
sinus, puberulent; peduncles with 1-3 flowers, pedi- 
cels becoming very thick, 2-4 cm long, bracts less 
than 2 cm long, early caducous; calyx lobes large, 
orbicular, apex rounded to obtuse, sharply mucro- 
nate, 2-3 cm long, sericeous, somewhat accrescent; 
corolla broadly campanulate, 5-6 cm long; capsule 
globose, about 1.5 cm long, or somewhat more; 
seeds black, glabrous. 
Apparently very rare in the Marquesas, no defi- 
nite localities known. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.--Marquesas Islands: s.l., Dupetit-Thouars 
20 (US). Nukuhiva I.: Henry 57 (P). 
LOCAL NAME.--Pu~~u oke (Dupetit-Thouars 20). 
Stictocardia Hallier f. 
Stictocardia Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb., 18:159, 1894. 
Large twiners; leaves glandular beneath; pedun- 
cles axillary, bearing cymes; sepals elliptic to or- 
bicular, greatly accrescent and thickened in fruit; 
corolla funnelform-campanulate; stamens and style 
included, pollen spinulose; stigmas 2, globose; 
capsule completely enclosed by accrescent calyx, 
globose, 4-celled, the septa with transverse wings, 
wall thin, irregularly dehiscent leaving the septa 
and their wings enclosing seeds; seeds pubescent. 
NUMBER 23 
Pantropical, with one species in the Marquesas. 
Differs from Zpomoea only in the glandular 
leaves, the thickened closed fruiting calyx and the 
structure of the capsule. 
Stictocardia campamdata (L.) Merrill 
Stictocardia campanulata (L.) Merrill, Phil. Journ. Sci., 9 
Bot., 133, 1914.-Delmas in Dordillon, Dict. Marqu. ed. 2, 
2:586, 1932 [sub puhipuhi]. 
Ipomoea campanulata L., Sp. PI. 160, 1753. 
Conuoluulus tiliaefolius Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encyl. 
Stictocardia tiliaefolia (Desrousseaux) Hallier f., Bot. Jahrb., 
Meth., 3:544, 1789 [=1792]. 
18:159, 1894. 
Extensive but rather slender short-pubescent 
twiner. Leaves broadly ovate cordate with open 
sinus, apex slightly blunt-acuminate; peduncles I-, 
rarely 3-, flowered, mostly shorter than leaves; 
sepals about 15 mm long, the inner exceeding 
outer, almost truncate, inner remotely ciliate, sepals 
enormously accrescent and becoming thick and 
spongy and completely enclosing the fruit; corolla 
delicate, lavender, narrowly campanulate but 
strongly flaring, 8-10 cm long, stamens and style 
included, fruiting sepals 4 cm long, closely invest- 
ing capsule, capsule about 2.5-3 cm long, globose; 
seeds brown, shortly and sparsely sericeous. 
Pantropical, widespread in the Pacific Islands. 
SPECIMENS SEEN.--Eiao I.: side of ridge, 400 m, Jones 1517 
(BISH). Hivaoa I.: Makemake Valley, 300 m, PES (M 6. A) 
16 (BISH, LeB). 
LOCAL NAME.--Pu~~~u~~ (PES 16); also cited by 
Delmas as aupuhi in Uapou. 
Literature Cited 
Adamson, A. M. 
1936. Marquesan Insects: Environment. Bernice P. Bishop 
Museum Bulletin, 139:l-73. 
Aubert de la Rue, E. 
1958. Tahiti et ses archipels: Polynesie francaise. 158 
pages. Paris. 
Brand, D. D. 
1971. The Sweet Potato: An Exercise in Methodology. 
Pages 343-365 in Carroll L. Riley, J. Charles Kelley, 
Campbell W. Pennington, Robert L. Rands, edi- 
tors, Man across the Sea: Problems of Pre-Columbian 
Contacts, Austin, Texas, and London. 
An Index to the Islands of the Pacific Ocean. Ber- 
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Flora of Southeastern Polynesia, I: Monocotyledons. 
Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin, 84:l-194, 
plates 1-35. 
Flora of Southeastern Polynesia, 111: Dicotyledons. 
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Plants, Man and Landscape in Marquesan Valleys, 
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Brigham, W. T. 
1900. 
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1931. 
1935. 
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1970. 
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1886-1892. Illustrationes Florae Insularum Mark Pacifici. 
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352 pages. Paris. 
Fosberg, F. R. 
1939. Psychotria (Rubiaceae) in the Marquesas Islands. 
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1970. 
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1966. 
9:11-13. 
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