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

Heliconia psittacorum L.
75
" heliconia"
Recent introduction. Trop. S. America. Occasional. Erect herb, less than 1.5 m
tall; leaves, few, 3 to 5 in number; inflorescence, an erect flowering stalk bearing small
bright orange flowers with green tips. Planted ornamental. 5, 6, 7.
Heliconia sp. " heliconia"
(1 74).
Recent introduction. Trop. America. Rare. Erect herb. Planted ornamental. 5
TACCACEAE (Polynesian Arrowroot Family)
Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) 0. Kuntze "Polynesian arrowroot"
damagmag, damogmog (N); te makemake (K); masoa, vatia (T)
syns. Leontice leontopetaloides L. ; Tacca pinnatifida Forst.
Aboriginal introduction. Paleotropics. Occasional. Large stemless herb, up to 1 m
high; leaves, large, palmately 3-parted, deeply-lobed, on long petioles, 60 cm or more in
length, emerging directly from starchy underground tubers resembling potatoes, 20 to 25
cm in diameter; inflorescence, a hollow flower stalk (scape), up to over 1 m high,
bearing a terminal umbel or cluster of 10 to 40 hanging green flowers, about 15 mm
long, surrounded by 6 leafy bracts, 4 to 5 cm long and 2 cm wide, and numerous
hanging green and purplish filaments, up to 25 cm long; fruit, 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter,
fleshy, ribbed, globose, which turns yellow when mature, and is crowned with floral
parts. Occurring spontaneously in old gardens and in escarpment forest. Tubers grated
and washed to eliminate poisonous substances, and made into edible starch in the past,
but apparently not used by Nauruans to the extent that it was used in other parts of
Micronesia and Polynesia. Paste from tuber used as an adhesive for barkcloth and other
handicrafts in Polynesia and Melanesia and the fibers from the flower stem for weaving
in parts of Polynesia. 5, 6(ll9).
ZINGIBERACEAE (Ginger Family)
Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.
-
"red ginger"
syns. Guillainia purpurara Vieill. ; Languas purpurata (Vieill .) Kaneh.