american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

Peperomia pellucida (L,.) Kunth POLYGALACEAE
Weak-stemmed herb with alternate, cordate to ovate
leaves and terminal spikes of minute green flowers.
Occasional in croplands and disturbed places,
reported only from the lowlands. A modem intro-
duction, native to tropical America. Yuncker 9397;
I mnoureux 3075; Whistler 2756.
Peperomia tutuilana Yuncker
Small erect herb with alternate leaves and solitary
axillary spikes (usually solitary in the upper axils) of
minute green flowers. Occasional on rocks or trees
in the coastal to lowland forest, reported from near
sea level to 400 m elevation. Indigenous, also found
in Tonga ('Eua). Reinecke 40a?; Garber 863;
Yuncker 9386; Whistler 1274,2797,8590!, 9333!.
Piper graeffei Warb.
fue manogi; 'ava'avaaitu sosolo
Climbing vine with alternate, palmately veined
leaves, long, hanging unisexual spikes of minute
green flowers, and tiny red fruits. Common to
abundant in coastal to montane forest, reported from
20 to 600 m elevation. Indigenous, also found on
Futuna. Setchell 96, 463; Wilder 84; Garber 912;
Christophersen 985, 1260, 3566; Diefenderfer 15;
Meebold 16730; Mitchell 582; Yuncker 93 17, 9357;
Spence 489!; Whistler 1422, 1470, 3122.
PLANTAGINACEAE
*Plantago lanceolata L.
[narrow-leaved plantain]
Rosette-forming herb with parallel-veined lanceolate
leaves, narrow scapose spikes, and inconspicuous
flowers with exserted stamens. Rare in disturbed
places and perhaps not persisting in Samoa,
reported only from the lowlands. A modern introduction,
native to the Old World but now cosmopolitan.
Rechinger 3702.
"Plantago major L.
[plantain]
Rosette-forming herb with broad, parallel-veined
leaves, a narrow scapose spike, and inconspicuous
flowers with exserted stamens. Uncommon on
roadsides and in other disturbed places, reported
only from the lowlands. A modern introduction,
native to the Old World, but now cosmopolitan.
Setchell 126: Whistler 3 19.
Polygala paniculata L.
pulunamulole
Small herb with fragrant roots, alternate leaves, and
tiny white flowers in terminal and axillary racemes.
Occasional in disturbed places, reported from sea
level to 700 m elevation. A modern introduction,
native to tropical America. Setchell 16, 563; Eames
T10; Wilder 10; Garber 795; Lamoureux 3070;
Long 2599; Whistler 1439, 8910!.
PORTULACACEAE
*Portulaca lutea Sol. ex Forst. f.
tamole
Prostrate succulent herb with spirally arranged,
glabrous leaves, large, showy yellow solitary
flowers, and a capsule opening by the top splitting
off. Occasional on coastal rocks, reported only from
near sea level. Indigenous, ranging from New Caledonia
to Pitcairn Island. Setchell52,414.
*Portulaca oleracea L.
[purslane] tamole
Succulent prostrate to ascending herb with glabrous,
spirally arranged leaves, yellow flowers in terminal
clusters, and a capsule opening by the top splitting
off. Common on rocky and sandy shores and often
weedy, reported only from the lowlands. A Polyne-
sian or early European introduction, now cosmopo-
litan in distribution. Setchell 113; Garber 821, 970;
Whistler 143 1.
*Portulaca quadrifida L.
Tiny prostrate herb with opposite leaves, small
yellow, 4-merous flowers, and a capsule opening by
the top splitting off. Uncommon in sunny littoral
habitats and occasionally weedy in villages, reported
only from the lowlands. Probably a Polynesian
introduction, pantropic in distribution. Garber 816,
822; Whistler 2947.
Portulaca samoensis Poelln.
Prostrate, hairy herb with small, spirally arranged
leaves, small yellow, 5-merous flowers and a cap-
sule opening by the top splitting off. Occasional on
coastal rocks, reported only near sea level. Indige-
nous, ranging from New Guinea to Niue. Setchell
232, 347, 357; Long 2598; Whistler 2912.