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Melicope richii (A. Gray) T. G. Hartley [ Rutaceae ]

Taxonomy Reports: ITIS | IPNI | IOPI

Samoan Name:
English Name:
Status: Indigenous (endemic)
Habit: Shrub

Endemic to Tutuila. It is apparently found only on trachyte soil in montane scrub on Matafao and Le Pioa, where it is locally common, reported from 250 to 650 m elevation. No uses or Samoan names have been recorded for this nondescript species.
Shrub or tree up to 3 m in height, with young branches minutely puberulent to glabrate. Leaves simple (unifoliate), opposite, blade obovate to elliptic-obovate, 3.5–8 cm long, acute to cuneate at the base, short-acuminate or rarely obtuse or acute at the tip; surfaces glabrous; margins entire; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long. Inflorescences of few- to several-flowered cymes or panicles up to 2 cm long. Calyx synsepalous, 0.6–1 mm long, fused about halfway into 4 triangular-ovate lobes, on a pedicel 1.5–3.5 mm long. Corolla of 4 free, white, ovate-elliptic to narrowly elliptic petals 3–3.5 mm long. Ovary of female flowers superior, 4-celled, with a short style, capitate, 4-lobed stigma; rudimentary in male flowers. Stamens of male flowers 8, 3–3.5 mm long, those of female flowers less than half as long. Fruit a 4-lobed capsule 3.5–4 mm long, suborbicular in outline, each carpel with 1 or 2 shiny black seeds. Flowering and fruiting probably occur throughout the year.

Distinguishable by its small tree or shrub habit; small, simple, opposite leaves; tiny white flowers in axillary thryses; and a 4-lobed capsule containing 4 shiny black seeds.

TUTUILA:
223. USEE s.n.—Without further locality. Location not mapped.
224. Christophersen 1052—Matafao Ridge, 500–600 m elevation.
225. Christophersen 1066—Matafao Ridge, 500–600 m elevation.
226. Christophersen 3532—Scrub forest, top of Le Pioa, 500 m elevation.
227. Christophersen 3556—Scrub forest, top of Le Pioa, 500 m elevation.
228. Whistler 3664—Summit of Le Pioa at 450 m elevation.
229. Whistler 10485—Summit of Le Pioa at 460 m elevation.
230. Whistler 11142—South slope of South Pioa at 250 m elevation.

Other Collections:

Georeference: -14.315569, -170.701986

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