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Portulaca quadrifida L. [ Portulacaceae ]

Taxonomy Reports: ITIS | IPNI | IOPI

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

Probably an unintentional Polynesian introduction to American Samoa, pantropic in distribution. This herb occurs in sunny littoral habitats and is occasionally weedy, reported only from coastal areas. It has no reported Samoan name (although tamole may refer to the whole genus) or uses.

Prostrate succulent herb with stems up to 10 cm or more in length, rooting at the nodes, with conspicuous axillary hairs ca. 5 mm long. Leaves simple, opposite, blade succulent, often somewhat reddish, ovate to oblong, 3–10 mm long, rounded at the base, acute at the tip; surfaces glabrous; subsessile. Inflorescence of solitary terminal flowers, surrounded by an involucre of 4 leaf-like bracts. Calyx of 2 ovate sepals ca. 3 mm long, united at the base. Corolla of 4 obovate, yellow petals 4–5 mm long. Ovary superior, with free-central placentation, style 4- (3–5) branched. Stamens usually 8 (12), free. Fruit an obovate, circumscissile capsule 2–3.5 mm long, containing many tiny black seeds. Flowering and fruiting occur continuously.

Distinguishable by its tiny prostrate herb habit; opposite, succulent leaves; small yellow, 4-merous flowers; and many-seeded capsule opening by the top splitting off.

TUTUILA:
291. Garber 816—Goat Island.
292. Garber 822—Goat Island.
293. Whistler 2947—In sand at Aoa Bay.

AUNUU:
294. Whistler 8043—Occasional in patches in the village.

TA‘Ū:
295. Harris 77—On beach at Papatea. (This location was not found on any available maps.) Location not mapped.
296. Harris 98—On beach at Papatea. (This location was not found on any available maps.) Location not mapped.
297. Whistler 7593—One patch behind a house at the west end of Fitiuta Village.

Other Samoan Collections: SAVAII: (4). MANONO: (1). UPOLU: (3).

Other Collections:

Georeference: -14.315569, -170.701986

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