american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

Phyllanthus amarus Sch. & Thon. FABACEAE
Erect herb with spirally arranged branches bearing
small, alternate, elliptic, round-tipped leaves ar-
ranged in one plane, and tiny green flowers and
schizocarps on the lower side of the branches at the
i~xils. Common in disturbed places, reported only
liom the lowlands. A modern introduction, native to
tropical America. Setchell 14, 534; Wilder 19;
Garber 95 1, 955; Diefenderfer 25; Whistler 8954!.
Phyllanthus debilis Klein ex Willd.
Erect herb with longitudinally ridged stems, alternate,
acute-tipped, . . oblanceolate leaves arranged in
one plane, and tiny green flowers on the lower side
of the branches at the axils. Occasional in disturbed
places, reported from near sea level to 250 m elevation.
A modern introduction, native to the Old
World tropics. Whistler 8521 !.
Phyllanthus urinaria L.
Low herb with spirally arranged branches bearing
small, alternate leaves arranged in one plane, reddish
stems, tiny green, solitary, axillary flowers on the
lower side of the branches, and a tiny globose
schizocarp. Occasional in lawns and other disturbed
places, rcported only from the lowlands. A modern
introduction, native to tropical America. Lamo-
ureux 3083; Whistler 8955!.
Phyllanthus virgatus Forst. f.
Erect herb with spirally arranged branches bearing
small alternate leaves, tiny green flowers, and tiny
green, spherical fruits. Uncommon in sunny or
disturbed places in lowland forest, reported from 40
to 260 m elevation. Indigenous or a Polynesian
introduction, ranging from Asia to eastern Poly-
nesia. Setchell 330; Whistler 8694!.
*Richus communis L.
Shrub with large, alternate, purplish, palmately
lobed leaves, unisexual flowers with the apetalous
male flowers in dense, yellow heads, and soft-spiny
fruits containing six mottled seeds that are poison-
ous. Uncommon in disturbed places, reported only
from the lowlands. A modern introduction, native to
Africa. Whistler 8897.
Abrus precatorius L.
[rosary pea] matamoso
Climbing vine with alternate, pinnately compound
leaves, lavender papilionaceous flowers, and red and
black sceds in pods. Uncommon in coastal vege-
tation, reported from near sea level to 100 m eleva-
tion. Indigenous or possibly a Polynesian intro-
duction, widespread in the tropics. Setchell 312;
Wilder 18; Whistler 1484,2952,9030!.
Adenanthera pavonina L.
lo~a
Medium-sized tree with pinnately compound leaves,
small yellow flowers in spikes, and red seeds in
long, twisted (when open) pods. Occasional in dis-
turbed forest and casually cultivated, reported from
near sea level to 200 m elevation. A modem intro-
duction, widespread in cultivation in the tropics.
Diefenderfer 17.
Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.
Prostrate herb with simple, alternate, oblong leaves,
red papilionaceous flowers in racemes, and narrow,
cylindrical pods. Common in lawns and sunny dis-
turbed places, reported only from the lowlands. A
modern introduction, native to the Old World
tropics. Lamoureux 3076; Whistler 8972!.
Caesalpinia major (Medic.) Dandy & Exell
[yellow nickers] 'anaoso
Scandent to climbing shrub with thorny stems,
bipinnately compound leaves, distinct stipules,
yellow flowers, and yellow-gray seeds in spiny
pods. Occasional in littoral habitats to montane
forest, reported from near sea level to 650 m
elevation. Indigenous, pantropic in distribution.
Setchell 363; Whistler 2814?, 8932!. Caesalpinia
bonduc Roxb., which is present on 'Aunu'u, is hard
to distinguish from this species, and may also be
present on Tutuila. It has conspicuous leafy
stipules, which are lacking in C. major.
Calopogonium muconoides Desv.
Vine with stiffly hairy foliage and stems, alternate
trifoliate leaves, and stalked, short racemes of
lavender flowers. Locally common in disturbed
places, reported from near sea level to ca. 600 m