american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

*Psiloturn complanatum Sw
PSILOTACEAE DICOTYLEDONAE
Leafless pendulous epiphytic herb with a short-
creeping rhizome, flattened branches 2-3.5 mm
wide, and conspicuous yellow sporangia. Uncom-
111011 ~n lowlond Ibrcst, rcportcd from near sea level
to 360 m elevation. Indigenous, widespread in the
tropics. Lamoureux 301 5; Yuncker 9415; Whistler
2789.
Selaginella laxa Spring
SELAGINACEAE
Tiny terrestrial herb with prostrate stems, tiny
dimorphic leaves, and dimorphic sporophylls.
Uncomn~on on rocks in sunny places, reported from
near sea level to 500 m elevation. Indigenous,
ranging from Fiji to Tahiti. USEE s.n.; Veitch s.n.;
Reinecke s.n.; Meebold 21358; Setchell 107, 152;
Y uncker 9334; Whistler 8402,845 1, 8696!, 8905!.
Selaginella whitmeei Baker
Erect terrestrial herb with ovate acuminate leaves on
the main stem, ovate to lanceolate lateral leaves, and
sporcs borne in tetragonous strobili. Occasional in
lowland to cloud forest and in rocky stream beds,
reported from 150 to 1650 m elevation. A number
of virtually indistinguishable "species" have been
named from Samoa, and further taxonomic work is
needed to show if they are actually distinct species.
Endemic. Reinecke 62, 62a, 62b, 62f, 62v?; Steams
s.n.; Setchell 49, 71, 183, 223, 277; Garber 845,
923; Bryan 77; Meebold 17123; Yuncker 9325;
Christophersen 1215!, 1812!, 1813!, 1814!, 1816!,
l8l7!, 3502, 3524, 3544; Wisner 143; Long 1996f,
3053; Lamoureux 3014; Sledge 1830; Whistler
8407, 8522!, 8548!, 8940!.
NOTE: Several other species have been attributed to
Tutuila, but these claims are not supported by
voucher specimens or are otherwise likely to be
mistakes. This includes the following species: (1)
Lusfreopsis davalloides (Bracken.) Tindale, which
was attributed to the island by Christ; (2) Aspleniurn
lobulaturn Mett., based on Reinecke 37a, which may
be just a form of another species, and is, in any case,
otherwise only reported from 1400 to 1700 m
elevation; and (3) Dennstaedtiaflaccida (Forst. f.)
Bernhardi, attributed to the island by Christensen.
ACANTHACEAE
"Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders.
[Chinese violet]
Weak-stemmed herb with opposite leaves, white to
purple campanulate flowers in terminal racemes, and
a clavate capsule. Uncommon to rare as an adven-
tive or an escape in disturbed areas, reported only
from the lowlands. A modern introduction, native to
the Old World tropics. Yuncker 9393; Whistler 307.
Blechum brownei Juss.
Herb with opposite leaves and small white, campa-
nulate flowers borne among ovate bracts in terminal
spikes. Uncommon in disturbed areas, reported
from near sea level to 610 m elevation. A modern
introduction, native to tropical America. Whistler
9058.
*Hemigraphis alternata (Bum. f.) T. Anders.
Prostrate herb with opposite purple leaves, purple
bracts, and white campanulate flowers. Locally
common as a weed in lawns, reported only from the
lowlands. A modern introduction, native to tropical
Asia. Whistler 8933.
Justicia procumbens L.
Small herb with opposite leaves and tiny lavender,
bilabiate flowers in dense, ovoid, bract-bearing,
terminal spikes. Common in disturbed areas, report-
ed only from the lowlands. A modem introduction,
native to tropical Asia. Whistler 320, 2757, 8958!,
9176.
Ruellia prostrata Poir.
vaouli
Herb with opposite leaves, solitary, axillary, laven-
der, campanulate flowers, and a club- shaped cap-
sule. Common in disturbed areas, reported only
from the lowlands. A modern introduction, native to
the Old World tropics. Whistler 9082, 9lO5!.
*Ruellia tuberosa L.
Tough-stemmed herb with opposite leaves, large,
lavender, campanulate flowers solitary in the leaf
axils, and club-shaped capsules. Uncommon as a