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

MALVACEAE (Mallow Family)
Abutilon asiaticum (L.) Sweet var. supraviride Fosb.
ekaura, inen ekaura (N); te kaura ni Banaba (K)
Indigenous. S. E. Asia to the Pacific Is. Occasional. Erect velvety-pubescent
subshrub, 0.5 to 2 m high; leaves, 5 to 12 cm long, alternate, suborbicular-ovate cordate
at base, coarsely crenate-serrate or lobed, palmately-nerved, downy gray-green, long-
petiolate; flowers, 1.5 to 2.5 cm across, axillary, solitary, on long pedicels, 4 to 7 cm
long; calyx 5-lobed; corolla, 1.5 to 2.5 cm across, petals 5, about 1 cm long or longer,
imbricate, deltoid-obovate, orange-yellow; fruit, circular, a capsular schizocarp of 11 to
20 radiating carpels, hirsute, brown when dry, each carpel flattened, somewhat boat-
shaped, apiculate by the short persistent style-remnant, about 8 mm long; seeds,
reniform, stellate-pubescent. Found in waste places and ruderal habitats along coastal
strip, especially near the Ijuw-Anibare boundary, and among pioneering weeds in topsoil
in areas recently cleared for phosphate mining. Tender meristem used to scent coconut
oil; flowers used in garlands and headbands. 2, 3(58807, 58805), 4(107N), 5(107), 6,
7(22306).
Gossypium barbadense L. " sea-island cotton", "cotton"
duwoduwo (N); te baubau (K)
syns. G. brasiliense Macf.; G. pc?ru.vianu.m Cav.
Pre-World War I introduction. Trop. America. Extinct? Erect branching shrub,
up to 3 m or higher; leaves, 7 to 13 cm long, alternate, rotund to ovate, cordate, deeply
palmately 3 to 5 (rarely 7)-lobed or laciniate, glabrous with short, fugacious hairs, long-
petiolate; stipules foliaceous, lanceolate or ovate, auriculate; inflorescences, terminal or
on short axillary branches, solitary or 2 to 4-flowered racemes; bracteoles of epicalyx 3,
much longer than the calyx, with cordate base and a deeply incised or laciniate apical
lobe; top of pedicel with or without glands below the bracteoles; corolla, 5 to 8 cm
across, obovately 5-petaled, petals, about 5 to 8 cm long, yellow, becoming streaked with
red or purple on fading, usually with a basal reddish or purplish spot; fruit, a 3-valved
ovoid, leathery, pitted capsule dotted with black oil glands; seeds, numerous, ovoid,
black, covered with fine, long, pure white easily-removed woolly fibers or hairs (cotton).
Collected by Burges in 1935, but not seen by subsequent collectors. Grown by Nauruans
in the past for the cotton which was used to stuff mattresses and pillows. The Nauruan
name for cotton is the same as for kapok. 2.