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Boerhavia albiflora Fosb. [ Nyctaginaceae ]

Taxonomy Reports: ITIS | IPNI | IOPI

Samoan Name:
English Name:
Status: Indigenous
Habit: Herb

Indigenous to American Samoa, widespread in the Pacific, where it occurs only in rocky littoral strand, reported only near sea level. This herb is known in Samoa from only three specimens collected in American Samoa (Tutuila only) and three in independent Samoa, but may be more common since it is inconspicuous and often found in inaccessible areas. No uses or Samoan names have been reported for this species.

Prostrate herb with puberulent stems arising form a thick taproot. Leaves simple, opposite, blade oblong to ovate, 1–3 cm long, rounded to truncate at the base, rounded to acute and apiculate at the tip; surfaces glabrous; margins subentire; petiole 3–12 mm long. Inflorescence an axillary, several-flowered cyme on a thin peduncle up to 3.5 mm long. Calyx funnelform, petaloid, white, shallowly 5-lobed, ca. 3 mm long, on an articulated pedicel 1–3 mm long. Corolla absent. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with a filiform style bearing a capitate stigma. Stamens, ca. 5, free, exserted. Fruit a sticky, narrowly ellipsoid, 5-ribbed anthocarp 3–4 mm long. Flowering and fruiting occurring continuously.

Distinguishable by its prostrate herbaceous habit; opposite leaves; tiny white flowers in stalked clusters; and tiny sticky, green, cylindrical fruit.

TUTUILA:
36. Whistler 8909—On north end of Tuafanua beach at the northwest tip of Polauta Ridge.
37. Whistler 9026—Cliff face north of Vatia village on the northeast tip of Polauta Ridge.
404. Whistler 11711—Cliff face north of Vatia village on the northeast tip of Polauta Ridge.

Other Samoan Collections: UPOLU: (3).

Other Collections:

Georeference: -14.315569, -170.701986

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