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

Hoya carnosa (L.) R. Br.
syns. Asclepias carnosa L.
"wax plant", "wax flower"
Recent introduction. S. China. Rare. Fleshy waxy climbing vine, climbing by
roots, up to 2 m or longer; leaves, 5 to 10 cm long, opposite, narrow to broad ovate-
oblong, mid-green, thick, fleshy, shiny, flat; flowers, 1 to 1.3 cm in diameter, 5-parted,
white with pink centers, convex, wheel- or star-shaped, waxy, fragrant. Planted ornamen-
tal. Single specimen; could have been the Australian species, H. australis R. Br. (syn. H.
bicarinata Gray). 6, 7.
ASTERACEAE OR COMPOSITAE (Aster, Sunflower or Composite Family)
Ageratum conyzoides L.
bwiyat tsige, bwiyat ziege (N)
"goat weed", "ageratum"
Pre-World War I introduction. Trop. America. Occasional. Erect to somewhat
sprawling, branching, weak-stemmed, strong smelling, annual herb, up to 80 cm high;
leaves, 2 to 10 cm long and 1 to 5 cm wide, opposite, ovate or rhombic-ovate, acutish,
base rounded and acute at petiole, edges scalloped, pubescent on both surfaces, glandular
dorsally; petiole up to 5 cm or longer; flowerheads, small, 4 to 6 mm long, bluish,
corymbose, in loose, terminal and axillary clusters; involucral bracts, 3 mm long, acute-
acuminate, subglabrous; florets, about 75 per head, about 1 mm long, white or light
purplish-blue; fruit (achenes), 1.5 to 2 mm long, numerous, angled, nearly glabrous;
pappus, of 5 awned scales. Found on low ground near Buada Lagoon and occasionally in
other ruderal habitats. Leaves and flowers used in garlands and body decoration and for
scenting coconut oil. 3(58652), 5(1 l), 6, 7, 8(9574).
Bidens alba (L.) DC. "cobbler's peg", "Spanish needle" kauen oe, kawen oe (N)
syns. Coreopsis albu. L.; C. leucanthema L.; C. leucantha L.; B. pilosa L. var.
radiata sensu auct. non Sch.-Bip.; B. leucantha (L.) Willd.
Recent introduction. Trop. America. Rare. Erect branching annual herb (in big
plants, the branches sometimes straggling), up to 1.5 m tall; leaf blades, 1 to 12 cm long
and up to 6 cm wide, lower leaves simple, ovate and serrate, but upper leaves trifoliate
or imparipinnate, leaflets ovate or ovate-oblong, acute, basally decurrent, petiolulate,
serrate; petioles, up to 6 cm long; flowerheads, few, in panicles; involucral bracts, about
7 or 8, linear-spatulate; - -- heads, 6 - to - - 8 - mm -- - long and -- 6 to --- 8 mm - wide; -- ray florets bright
white, 6 to 8 mm long; disc-florets yellow; fruit (achenes), linear, 7 to 13 mm long,
black or dark brown, about 1 mm wide, flat, 4-angled, short-strigose or glabrous, with2
to 4 barbed awns, about 3 mm long, at the tip. Weed on dirt pile near Topside sports
oval; not seen in 1987. 4(142N), 5(76), 6.