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

emnant. Rare shrub with edible fruits in escarpment forest. Ripe fruit eaten, especially
by children. 2(K9), 6(l65).
Gardenia augusta (L.) Merr. "gardenia"
syns. Varneria augusta L.; Gardenia florida L.; G. jasminoides Ellis; G.
radicans Thunb.
Recent introduction. China. Rare. Erect shrub, 1 to 2 m or higher; leaves, 4 to 12
cm long, and 1 to 4 cm wide, opposite, ovate, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic obovate,
acute or somewhat acuminate, decurrent at base on short petiole, somewhat glossy, dark
green; petioles, 1 to 8 mm long, winged by decurrent leaf-blade margins; stipules, often
split nearly to base with a single unilateral lobe, but sometimes bilobed; inflorescences,
axillary, solitary; calyx 5- to 7-winged, terminated by linear-lanceolate spurs, 15 to 30
mm long and 1.5 to 6 mm wide; corolla, 6 to 8 cm across, 6-petaled (double cultivars
with additional petals), tube 5 to 9 cm long, white aging yellow-brown, very sweetly
fragrant; stamens 5 to 11; fruit, 2 to 3 cm long, ovoid, 5- to 6- ribbed, crowned by
calyx, many-seeded. Planted ornamental. 6, 7.
Gardenia taitensis DC.
te tiare (K); tiale, siale (T)
"Tahitian gardenia", tiare Tahiti (Tahiti)
Recent introduction. Pacific Is. Rare. Large shrub to small tree, up to 5 m tall;
leaves, 6 to 18 cm long and 3 to 10 cm wide, opposite, elliptic-obovate, obtusely short-
pointed, base cuneate, somewhat glossy or shiny, bright green, prominently pinnately
nerved, midrib very prominent; petiole, winged by decurrent leaf-blade margins, the
petiole bases of leaf-pairs joined together by stipules; petioles, usually less than 5 mm
long; stipules, connate, bilobed; inflorescences, solitary, in upper leaf axils; calyx,
prominently 4-lobed, lobes 11 to 30 cm long and 2 to 8 mm wide, lanceolate; corolla, 4
to 8 cm across, 4- to 8-petaled, petals, up to about 3 or 4 cm long, spreading from a
tubular base, about equalling tube, bright white, very fragrant; fruit, about 2 to 2.5 cm in
diameter, globose, longitudinally ridged. Planted ornamental in Tuvaluan garden at
Location. Fragrant flowers used in garlands and to scent coconut oil. 6, 7.
Gardenia sp. "Professor Pucci gardenia"
Recent introduction. Origin. Rare. Planted ornamental. 6.