Limnophila fragrans (Forst. f.) Seem. [ Scrophulariaceae ]
Samoan Name: Tamole vai
English Name:
Status: Indigenous
Habit: Herb
Native to American Samoa, ranging from Australia and Melanesia to the Society Islands (it was originally named from Tahiti). In Samoa it is rare in wet places, such as in taro patches, streambeds, and crater lake margins, on all the main islands, reported from near sea level to 650 m elevation. It seems to prefer old taro patches, and perhaps is unable to grow in undisturbed marshes due to its short stature and competition with taller native marsh species. The only recent collection of this plant from independent Samoa was a new record from Savai‘i in ca. 1992 and a 2005 record from ‘Upolu: prior to the latter date, the plant had not been collected on ‘Upolu since 1905. In American Samoa, it has been recorded at only four sites: Faga‘alu (which does not seem to have suitable habitat today), Vatia marsh (Tutuila), Ofu marsh, and Ta‘ū marsh. It was not found in the two Manu‘a marshes in a search during a recent survey (Whistler 1998), and is currently known only from Vatia marsh (where it was not, however, located in a brief search by Whistler in 2001). It is, however, likely to still occur in the Ta‘ū marsh, as seed anyway, since the area is currently overgrown and difficult to traverse. It is recommended for a threatened or endangered status because of its rarity in Samoa and Polynesia, and the paucity of its suitable habitat remaining in the Territory. The main threat to this species seems to be limited habitat and human activities or lack of activities in its natural habitat (taro fields). The name tamole vai was recorded for it by Powell (1868), and was also noted by Pratt, Kramer, and Funk. Both Funk and Powell noted its medicinal use, but the name and the plant have been virtually forgotten today. Pickering listed a “Curanga, No. 1” with blue flowers, and broadly ovate, serrulate leaves as occurring on “banks of streams on Tutuila; (seeming indigenous, and perhaps really so).” Limnophila, however, has white rather than blue flowers and elliptic to obovate rather than broadly ovate leaves. Literally, “aquatic tamole” (an ancient Polynesian word for one or more species of herbs). It is still used in traditional medicines in Tahiti.
Herb with weak, greenish, glabrous stems up to 15 cm or more in height, sometimes held upright between other vegetation. Leaves simple, opposite, decussate, blade elliptic to obovate, 1–2.5 cm long, broadly acute and winged at the base, broadly acute at the tip; surfaces glabrous, gland-dotted, fragrant; margins finely serrate; sessile. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers, one per leaf pair, subtended by several subulate bracts 1.5–2.5 mm long. Calyx 3.5–5.0 mm long, cut halfway to the base into 5 lobes. Corolla bilabiate, white, 7–9 mm long, the limb shallowly divided into 5 rounded lobes, with dark longitudinal lines in the throat and faintly showing on the outside. Ovary superior, with a 2-lobed style. Stamens 4, epipetalous, included. Fruit an obovoid capsule about as long as the calyx, 4-valved, many-seeded. Flowering and fruiting probably occur continuously.
Distinguishable by its weak-stemmed herbaceous habit; small, fragrant, opposite, sessile leaves with finely toothed margins; and small, solitary, white, 5-lobed flowers borne one to an axil.
TUTUILA:
185. USEE s.n.—Without further locality. Location not mapped.
186. Setchell 370—In the bed of Faga‘alu Creek not far from the village.
187. Whistler 8044—Common among Eleocharis in Vatia marsh.
188. Whistler 9034—Uncommon in Vatia marsh.
189. Whistler 10950—Locally common at north end of Vatia marsh.
OFU:
190. Whistler 8024—Locally abundant in Vaoto marsh.
TA‘Ū:
191. Whistler 1317—In the marsh at Ta‘ū Village
192. Whistler 3305—In a taro patch at Ta‘ū Village.
193. Whistler 7968—In the marsh at Ta‘ū Village.
Other Samoan Collections: SAVAII: (1). UPOLU: (3). WITHOUT FURTHER LOCALITY: (1).
Other Collections:
Georeference: -14.315569, -170.701986
© 2008. CIEER. Past last updated: April 20, 2008.