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

numerous, anthers introrse, opening by slits; carpels united into a multilocular ovary
bearing a flat radiate stigma; seeds, hard, operculate, arillate. Planted ornamental in
water tanks and in small household fish ponds. 3(58684), 4, 5(251).
NYCTAGINACEAE (Four-o'clock Family)
Bougainvillea glabra Choisy "bougainv,illea" , "red bougainvillea"
tsita, tsitta (N); te akanta (K); akanta (T)
Recent introduction. Brazil. Stout, woody scrambling or climbing vinelike shrub,
with spiny, but less thorny than B. specrabilis; leaves, alternate, elliptic, acute at both
ends, sparsely puberulent on both surfaces; inflorescences, axillary, nearly 2.5 cm long,
in threes within 3 involucral bracts; bracts, ovate, commonly red, but variable in color,
persistent; perianth 5-lobed, swollen, 5-angled below constriction, yellow to yellowish-
white; fruit, 7 to 13 mm long, a glabrous anthocarp. Occasional. Planted ornamental.
Flowers used by I-Kiribati in garlands. 3(58726), 5, 6, 7.
Bougainvillea Spectabilis Willd. "bougainvillea", "purple bougainvillea"
tsita, tsitta (N); te akanta (K)
Recent introduction. Brazil or Peru. Occasional. Stout, woody scrambling or
climbing vinelike shrub with stout axillary spines and the young growth finely pubescent;
leaves, alternate, ovate, acute at both ends, tomentose beneath and often above; inflores-
cences, axillary, nearly 2.5 cm long, in threes within 3 involucral bracts; bracts, ovate,
rich purplish-magenta to rosy pink, less comrnonly orange, pale yellow or white, veiny,
persistent; perianth 5-lobed, tubular, indistinctly angled, yellow to yellowish white;
stamens usually 8, unequal; fruit, 11 to 14 mm long, a 5-angled anthocarp, densely
pilose, not sticky. Planted ornamental. Flowers used by I Kiribati in garlands. 5, 6, 7.
Mirabilis jalapa L. "four-o'clock", "marvel of Peru", "false jalap"
teoua, teowa (N); te aoaaua, te awaava (K)
Recent introduction? Mexico. Occasional. Erect, glabrous, somewhat succulent
annual herb, up to 1 m tall, with tuberous roots; leaves, 5 to 10 cm long, opposite,
ovate-lanceolate, apex long attenuate-acuminate, base broadly cordate; petioles up to 2.5
cm long; inflorescences, bisexual, in terminal clusters; perianth,3.5 to 5 cm long, 5-
el - -hap%-r-ea;-Pn@e,yellowormwagfa-nTo-p-efling-rn
in the afternoon; stamens, 5; fruit, 8 mm long, an anthocarp, hard, ribbed, black, not
prickly or sticky. Planted ornamental; spontaneous in some places on coastal strip.
Flowers used in garlands. 3(58784), 5, 6, 7.