Hedyotis scabridifolia

Last updated

Hedyotis scabridifolia
Hedyotis scabridifolia, var. stonei collected from southern Guam by Fosberg, 1980.png
Hedyotis scabridifolia, var. stonei collected from southern Guam by Fosberg, 1980
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Hedyotis
Species:
H. scabridifolia
Binomial name
Hedyotis scabridifolia
Kaneh. (1935)
Varieties
  • Hedyotis scabridifolia var. scabridifolia
  • Hedyotis scabridifolia var. stonei(Fosberg)

Hedyotis scabridifolia is an herb or small shrub that is endemic to the volcanic soils of the Mariana Islands of Guam, Rota and Saipan. [1]

Contents

Description

The taxonomic key to Micronesian Hedyotis species provided by Fosberg et al. indicates that the distinguishing characteristic of Hedyotis scabridifolia is the "distal branching of thyrses," which are ascending and racemiform. It is similar to Hedyotis laciniata but with inflorescence pattern more similar to H. fruticulosa ," and "notable for its long-exserted style." [2]

The variant H. scabridifolia var. scabridifolia (synonym: Hedyotis saipanensis [3] ) is endemic to Saipan and distinguished by the whole plant being puberulent (covered in small hairs). [4]

The variant H. scabridifolia var. stonei, found on Guam and Rota in savannas and disturbed sites, is distinguished by its stems and leaves being glabrous, or smooth. It is named after the botanist, Benjamin Stone, who was one of the collectors. [4]

History

Hedyotis scabridifolia was first described in 1935 by Japanese botanist, Ryōzō Kanehira, in the journal Transactions, Natural History Society of Formosa. [1] Fosberg et al. also provided a detailed description of the species in 1993. [4]

H. scabridifolia has been observed on Rota on the trail to the Sabana near the highest point of the island (which is around 500 meters elevation) and on Guam at evevations from 60 to 100 meters near Mt. Lamlam, and the Sagua River, Dan Dan, and Umatac. [4] As of 2024, the latest record of observation of the species was in 2000. There are no known photographs of live plants. [5] [6] [7]

See also

List of endemic plants in the Mariana Islands

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Mariana Islands</span> Unincorporated territory of the US

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago; the southernmost island, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory. The Northern Mariana Islands were listed by the United Nations as a non-self governing territory until 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Pongsona</span> Pacific typhoon in 2002

Typhoon Pongsona was the last typhoon of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season, and was the second costliest United States disaster in 2002, only behind Hurricane Lili. The name "Pongsona" was contributed by North Korea for the Pacific tropical cyclone list and is the Korean name for the garden balsam. Pongsona developed out of an area of disturbed weather on December 2, and steadily intensified to reach typhoon status on December 5. On December 8 it passed through Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands while at peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph). It ultimately turned to the northeast, weakened, and became extratropical on December 11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asuncion Island</span>

Asuncion is an island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain in the Pacific Ocean. The island is uninhabited. Asuncion is situated 101 kilometers (63 mi) northwest of Agrihan and 37 km (23 mi) southeast of the Maug Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alamagan</span> Island in the Northern Marianas island chain

Alamagan is an island in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean, 30 kilometres (16 nmi) north of Guguan, 250 kilometres (135 nmi) north of Saipan, and 60 kilometres (32 nmi) south of Pagan. It is currently undergoing resettlement since 2018, with a few people living there. The project was coordinated by the Northern Islands Mayor's office and the people there have radio contact with the mainland.

Francis Raymond Fosberg was an American botanist. A prolific collector and author, he played a significant role in the development of coral reef and island studies.

<i>Eugenia palumbis</i> Species of flowering plant

Eugenia palumbis is a shrub with edible fruits in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to the Mariana Islands, including Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

<i>Elaeocarpus joga</i> Species of plant

Elaeocarpus joga is a species of tree in the family Elaeocarpaceae. It is native to the Mariana Islands and Palau. It is a moderately-sized tree with blue-coloured, round, 1.5cm diameter fruit and leaves which turn bright red before they senescence.

Callicarpa candicans is a species of flowering plant in the mint family. It is native Indochina, southern China, Malesia, New Guinea, northern Australia, and Micronesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marianas tropical dry forests</span> Tropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion of the Mariana Islands

The Marianas tropical dry forests is a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion on the Marianas Islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariana monitor</span> Species of lizard

Varanus tsukamotoi, the Mariana monitor or Saipan monitor, is a species of lizard of the Varanidae family. It is endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, and has been introduced to Japtan in the Marshall Islands.

<i>Syzygium thompsonii</i> Plant of the Marianas islands

Syzygium thompsonii is an endemic tree of the Mariana Islands of Guam, Rota, and Saipan with a striking appearance due to its abundance of white flowers and edible fruit that grow directly from the trunk. It is related to the Malay apple but bears smaller tart fruit.

<i>Piper salicinum</i> Species of plant

Piper salicinum is a plant in the Piperaceae family that is possibly endemic to the Mariana Islands (Guam), although there is some confusion in the literature as to whether it may have been collected from Mexico and Panama. It has not been observed since its initial collection in 1792.

<i>Callicarpa lamii</i> Plant in the mint family

Callicarpa lamii is a plant in the mint family that is endemic to the Mariana Islands. It is one of two Callicarpa plants endemic to the Mariana Islands, the other being Callicarpa candicans var. paucinervia.

<i>Rhaphidophora guamensis</i> Climbing plant

Rhaphidophora guamensis is a climbing plant in the family Araceae that is endemic to the island of Guam in the Mariana Islands.

Psychotria hombroniana is shrub or tree in the family Rubiaceae that is endemic to the Caroline and Mariana Islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

<i>Terminalia rostrata</i> Species of plant

Terminalia rostrata is a large tree found only on the Mariana Island of Asuncion. It is a part of the "Terminalia and ravine forest" on the western and southwestern slopes of the island, consisting of scattered Terminalia rostrata in association with Premna serratifolia, Morinda citrifolia,Hibiscus tiliaceus, and Pandanus tectorius. This forest type is described as the best-developed forest in the Mariana Islands north of Saipan, owing to its protection on the lee side of the mountain. The leaves of Terminalia rostrata are most similar to Terminalia catappa, but they have soft hairs similar to that of Terminalia samoensis. It is otherwise most similar to Terminalia foetidissima, although differing in various ways. The species name refers to the strongly beaked fruit. Fruit bats feed on the husks of the seeds. The species was first discovered by Marjorie V. C. Falanruw during an expedition to the far northern Mariana islands in 1972 and was first described by Francis Raymond Fosberg in the journal Phytologia in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micronesian rufous fantail</span> Species of bird

The Micronesian rufous fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae that is endemic to the Mariana Islands and the island of Yap in Micronesia. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Australian rufous fantail.

Aidia racemosa is a tree in the Rubiaceae family, native from Thailand east to the Pacific islands and south to Australia.

<i>Leptecophylla mariannensis</i> Species of flowering plants

Leptecophylla mariannensis is a plant in the Ericaceae family and is only known to exist on the tiny island of Alamagan in the Mariana archipelago.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hedyotis scabridifolia Kaneh. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  2. Smithsonian Institution; Institution, Smithsonian (1993). Smithsonian contributions to botany. Vol. 81=5 (1993). Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 65.
  3. "Hedyotis saipanensis Hosok. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Fosberg, F. Raymond; Sachet, Marie-Hélène; Oliver, Royce L. (1993). SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY • NUMBER 8 Flora of Micronesia, 5: Bignoniaceae-Rubiaceae. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 77–78.
  5. "Search". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  6. "Observations". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  7. "Occurrence Detail 2239548700". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-02-23.