atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

Nerium oleander L. var. oleander
te orian (K)
"oleander"
Pre-World War I1 introduction. S. Europe to Iran. Occasional. Large erect shrub,
up to 4 m or higher, with arching stems rising from the ground, young growth finely
pubescent, young branches slightly 3-angled and all parts extremely poisonous; leaves, 10
to 20 cm long and 2 to 3.5 cm wide, dull grey-green, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, acute
at both ends, entire, flat, leathery (coriaceous), midrib prominent, lateral nerves
numerous, fine; flowers, 4 to 5 cm wide, showy, white, pink to deep red, slightly
scented, with five toothed appendages in the corolla throat, borne in terminal cymose
clusters; fruit, 10 to 20 cm long, seldom seen, sometimes developing from single
flowers. Planted ornamental. 2, 3(58783), 4, 6, 7.
Nerium oleander L. var. indicum (Mill.) Deg. & Deg. "oleander", "sweet scented
oleander" te orian (K)
syns. N. indicum. Mill.; N. odorum Soland.
Post World War I1 introduction? Iran to Japan. Occasional. Large erect shrub, up
to 4 m or higher, with arching stems rising from the ground, young growth finely
pubescent, young branches slightly 3-angled and all parts extremely poisonous; leaves, 10
to 20 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm wide, dull grey-green, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, acute
at both ends, entire, edges rolled back, leathery (coriaceous), midrib prominent, lateral
nerves numerous, fine; flowers, 4 to 5 cm wide, corolla usually double, showy, white,
pink to deep red, fragrant, funnel-shaped, with fringed appendages in the corolla throat,
borne in terminal cymose clusters; fruit, 10 to 20 cm long, paired, pod-like, seldom seen,
sometimes developing from single flowers. Planted ornamental shrub. 3, 5, 6, 7.
Ochrosia elliptica Labill.
eorara, eoerara (N)
syn. Bleekeria elliptica (Labill.) Koidz.
Indigenous. Australia to the Pacific Is. Occasional to common. Small to mediumsized
tree, up to 8 m or higher, with white milky sap; leaves up to 15 cm long, oval or
inverted ovate, blunt or short-pointed, leathery (coriaceous), arranged in pairs, threes or
fours, with blades tapering into petioles about 1.2 cm long; flowers, small, creamcolored,
fragrant, stemless, developing in short cymose clusters at or near the branch
tips; fruit, 2.5 to 4.5 cm long, bright red, ovoid drupe, slightly keeled or flattened on the
margins, pointed, twinned, with mealy violet, scented pulp surrounding one or two seeds.
Tree in fs~est remnants on rocky-outcrqs-on the-central plateau, in escarpment forests
on southern half of the island, and occasionally in home gardens on coastal strip. Wood
used by Nauruans for rafters and small timber; leaves used medicinally, being crushed
with coconut cream to treat rashes, especially for children; fruit used in children's
games, and fruit and flowers used in garlands. 2, 3(58802), 4(168N), 5(92), 6, 7(27812).