american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

from near sea level to 400 m elevation. Indigenous
or a Polynesian introduction, widespread in the
Pacific. Setchell 285; Meebold 16695; Yuncker
9300.
Momordica charantia L.
[balsam pear]
Herbaceous vine with alternate, deeply-palmately
lobed leaves, yellow unisexual flowers on long, thin
pedicels, fleshy, lumpy, orange, fusiform fruits, and
large red seeds. Common in disturbed places, re-
ported only from the lowlands. A modem intro-
duction, native to the Old World tropics. Christo-
phersen 989; Yuncker 9348; Whistler 1438, 2840,
8952!, 9158.
Zehneria mucronata (Bl.) Miq.
Herbaceous vine with alternate, thin, mostly deltoid
leaves, tiny white axillary flowers, and orange fruits
rounded at the ends. Occasional in clearings in the
forest, reported from near sea level to 1700 m eleva-
tion. Indigenous, ranging from Taiwan to Tahiti.
Whistler 2958, 8483, 8486, 8923!.
Zehneria samoensis (A. Gray) Fosb. & Sachet
Prostrate herbaceous vine with alternate, scabrous,
deltoid leaves, tiny white axillary flowers, and
orange, cylindrical fruits acute at the ends. Occa-
sional in the littoral to coastal forest and sometimes
inland as a weed, reported from near sea level to ca.
200 m elevation. Indigenous, also found in Tonga
and Niue. Lister s.n.; Setchell 290; Whistler 2908,
8431.8931!.
CUNONIACEAE
Spiraeanthemum samoense A. Gray
Medium-sized tree with simple, opposite leaves and
racemes of tiny white flowers. Common to abun-
dant in lowland (uncommonly) or montane to cloud
forest, reported from 180 to 1850 m elevation. En-
demic. Setchell 404, 549; Christophersen 1048,
1067, 3506, 3576; Long 3063; Whistler 3838, 8518,
8650.
Weinmannia affinis A. Gray
Small tree with simple (rarely 3-7-foliate), opposite
leaves, conspicuous stipules, and racemes of tiny
white flowers. Common in montane forest and
scrub, reported from 300 to 1700 m elevation. Indi-
genous, also found in Fiji and possibly Rarotonga.
USEE s.n.?; Reinecke 487?; Christophersen 1201,
3565; Whistler 2905, 3641 !, 9064. Weinmannia
samoensis A. Gray is also reported from Tutuila,
based on two specimens. The main difference bet-
ween this and W. aflnis is compound versus simple
leaves; however, individuals with both type of
leaves have been found. Further field research is
needed to sort this out.
EBENACEAE
"Diospyros major (Forst. f.) Bakh.
Small tree with alternate ovate leaves bright green
below and dark above, white, axillary 3-lobed urce-
olate flowers, and solitary ovoid fruits. Uncommon
in native forest, perhaps a relict of cultivation.
Similar if not identical to D. christophersenii Fosb.
of Western Samoa. Probably a Polynesian intro-
duction, indigenous to Fiji and Tonga. Whistler
8948.
Diospyros elliptica (Forst.) P.S. Green
'anume
Small to medium-sized tree with alternate leaves,
3-merous flowers, and red to yellow, ellipsoid fruits.
Common to abundant in coastal and lowland forest,
reported from 10 to 300 m elevation. Indigenous,
ranging from the Lau Islands (Fiji) to Niue. USEE
s.n.; Rechinger 3729; Wilder 46; Diefenderfer 11;
Wisner 123; Whistler 288 1,29 17, 3620.
Diospyros samoensis A. Gray
'au'auli
Medium-sized tree with alternate leaves, white, 4-
merous flowers, and a globose fruit with a persistent
calyx of four reflexed lobes. Common to abundant
in coastal and lowland forest, reported from near sea
level to 350 m elevation. Indigenous, also found
from the Lau Islands to Niue. Setchell 63, 333;
Diefenderfer 16; Christophersen 1000; Yuncker
9378; Wisner 121; Spence 481 !; Whistler 2882,
3619.
ELAEOCARPACEAE
Elaeocarpus tonganus Burkill
a'amati'e
Medium-sized tree with alternate, ovate leaves
turning red with age, many-petaled white flowers,