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Western Polynesian Tropical Moist Forests
The Western Polynesian tropical moist forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion in Polynesia. It includes Tuvalu, the Phoenix Islands in Kiribati, Tokelau, and Howland and Baker islands, which are possessions of the United States. Geography The islands are mostly atolls, low islands of coralline sand ringing a central lagoon, or raised platforms of coralline limestone. The ecoregion includes three archipelagos along with some scattered islands. Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, includes nine atolls between 6º to 9º S latitude and 176º to 180º E longitude. The Phoenix Islands include eight atolls between 2º to 5º S latitude and 171º to 175º W longitude. They are part of Kiribati, and mostly uninhabited. Tokelau includes three inhabited atolls, Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo, and uninhabited Swain's Island, which is disputed with American Samoa. Tokelau lies between 8º to 12º S latitude and 170º to 173º W longitude. Howland and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Funafuti
Funafuti is an atoll, comprising numerous islets, that serves as the capital of Tuvalu. As of the 2017 census, it has a population of 6,320 people. More people live in Funafuti than the rest of Tuvalu combined, with it containing approximately 60% of the nation's population. The main islet, Fongafale, hosts Vaiaku, the administrative center of the nation. Funafuti was first sighted by Europeans in 1819 by Arent Schuyler de Peyster, an American sea captain, who named it Ellice's Island. Between 1850 and 1875, Funafuti, with its navigable lagoon, was targeted by Blackbirding, blackbirders who kidnapped natives to work at mines off the coast of Peru and Chile. In 1892, each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British protectorate by Captain Herbert William Sumner Gibson, Herbert Gibson of . In 1909, the first resident magistrate was appointed to Funafuti; in 1915, Funafuti, along with the rest of the Ellice Islands, were incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands as a crown c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heliotropium Arboreum
''Heliotropium arboreum'' is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It is native to tropical Asia including southern China, Madagascar, northern Australia, and most of the atolls and high islands of Micronesia and Polynesia. Common names include velvetleaf soldierbush, tree heliotrope, veloutier, and octopus bush. It is a shrub or small tree typical of littoral zones reaching a height of , with a spread of about . Taxonomy Originally published as ''Tournefortia argentea'', it was transferred to ''Argusia argentea'', and remained under that name until recently. It was subsequently restored to the genus ''Tournefortia'' before being transferred into the genus ''Heliotropium'' under a new name in 2003. Botanical description The tree heliotrope is a small to medium sized growing tree that typically reaches heights of . The leaves of this tree are light green in color, silvery in sheen, and silky in texture. The tree produces small fruits and flowers durin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Portulaca
''Portulaca'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Portulacaceae, and is the type genus of the family. With over 100 species, it is found in the tropics and warm temperate regions. Portulacas are also known as the purslanes. Common purslane ('' Portulaca oleracea'') is widely consumed as an edible plant, and in some areas it is invasive. '' Portulaca grandiflora'' is a well-known ornamental garden plant. Purslanes are relished by chickens. Some ''Portulaca'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the nutmeg moth (''Hadula trifolii''). Some Portulaca species can undergo photosynthesis using the C4 or the CAM light-independent pathway as required depending on environmental conditions. Species The following species are accepted: *'' Portulaca africana'' (Danin & H.G.Baker) Danin – Western Africa to south China *'' Portulaca almeviae'' Ocampo – Mexico *'' Portulaca amilis'' Speg. – Paraguayan purslane – Peru t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lepturus Repens
''Lepturus'' (common name thintail) is a genus of plants in the grass family, native to Asia, Africa, Australia, and various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. ; Species * '' Lepturus anadabolavensis'' A.Camus - Madagascar * '' Lepturus androyensis'' A.Camus - Madagascar * '' Lepturus boinensis'' A.Camus - Madagascar * '' Lepturus calcareus'' Cope - Socotra * '' Lepturus copeanus'' B.K.Simon - Australia * '' Lepturus geminatus'' C.E.Hubb. - Australia * '' Lepturus humbertianus'' A.Camus - Madagascar * '' Lepturus minutus'' B.K.Simon - Queensland * '' Lepturus nesiotes'' Cope - Socotra * '' Lepturus perrieri'' A.Camus - Madagascar * '' Lepturus pulchellus'' (Balf.f.) Clayton - Socotra * '' Lepturus radicans'' (Steud.) A.Camus - Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, India * '' Lepturus repens'' (J.R.Forst.) R.Br. - Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar, Chagos Is, Mauritius, Rodrigues I, Aldabr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Morinda Citrifolia
''Morinda citrifolia'' is a fruit-bearing tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to Southeast Asia and Australasia, which was spread across the Pacific by Polynesian sailors. The species is now cultivated throughout the tropics and widely naturalised. There are over 100 names for this fruit across different regions, including great morinda, Indian mulberry, noni, beach mulberry, vomit fruit, awl tree, and rotten cheese fruit. The pungent odour of the fresh fruit has made it a famine food in most regions, but it remains a staple food among some cultures and is used in traditional medicine. In the consumer market, dietary supplements are sold in various formats, such as capsules and juices. Common names * Chinese: Hai ba ji, Wu ning (Singapore), Luo ling (Singapore, Taiwan) * Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga: Nonu, noni, nenu, nano, nonu atoni, gogu atoni * English, Tahiti: Canary wood (Australia), Indian mulberry, Large-leaved Morinda, Noni (Hawaii), Noni fruit, No ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scaevola Taccada
''Scaevola taccada'', also known as beach cabbage, sea lettuce, or beach naupaka, is a flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae found in mangrove swamps and rocky or sandy coastal locations in the tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific. It is a common beach shrub throughout the Arabian Sea, the tropical Indian Ocean and the tropical islands of the Pacific Ocean. There has long been confusion over the correct scientific name for this species. It is also known by the synonym ''Scaevola sericea''. Description ''Scaevola taccada'' is a large bush that grows up to about 3–10 metres typical of littoral zones where it grows very close to the sea exposed to the salt spray, usually on sandy or pebbly soils. The branchlets are 1–1.5 cm thick with white tufts at the leaf axils. Leaves are slightly succulent about 8–25 cm cm long, closely alternate or in a spiral and crowded at the stem tips. They are glabrous with a fleshy-looking yellowish green color. Flowers and fruit It flowe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ipomoea Violacea
''Ipomoea violacea'' is a perennial species of ''Ipomoea'' that occurs throughout the world with the exception of the European continent. It is most commonly called beach moonflower or sea moonflower as the flowers open at night. Description The corolla of the flower of ''Ipomoea violacea'' is white, distinguishing this species from ''Ipomoea tricolor'', commonly called ''Heavenly Blue''. It is sometimes mistaken for the cultivar ''Pearly Gates'', the corolla of which is also white, probably because of its misleading Latin binomial name, ''Ipomoea violacea'', "violacea" meaning purple. Comparative taxonomies A comparison of the taxonomy of the two plants shows that they belong to different Subgenera, consequently, ''Ipomoea violacea'' should not be used as a synonym for ''Ipomoea tricolor''. In exceptional cases where ''Ipomoea violacea'' has to be used as a synonym of ''Ipomoea tricolor'', one must specify the incorrect usage by using the abbreviation 'Auct.' for ''Auctorum''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asplenium Nidus
''Asplenium nidus'' is an epiphytic species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii (''ʻēkaha'' in Hawaiian), Polynesia,MacDonald, Elvin "The World Book of House Plants" pp.264 Popular Books Christmas Island, India, and eastern Africa. It is known by the common names bird's-nest fern (a name shared by some other aspleniums) or simply nest fern. Description ''Asplenium nidus'' forms large simple fronds visually similar to banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus '' Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing the ... leaves, with the fronds growing to long and broad, with occasional individuals up to 6.6 feet (two meters) in length by up to two feet (61 centimeters) width They are light green, often crinkled, with a black midrib, and exhibit circinate ve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pemphis Acidula
''Pemphis acidula'', commonly known as bantigue (pron. ) or mentigi, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lythraceae. It is the only species in the genus '' Pemphis''. It is found growing in sandy and calcareous soils in littoral zones, rocky shores and mangroves throughout most of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Botany The mentigi is a stocky bush that grows up to high with dense and twisted branches. Its greyish leaves are small but thick and hairy. Its flowers are small and not fragrant, each has six delicate white petals and come from stalks 5–15 mm long. Uses The wood of this species has been traditionally valued in many cultures for it is hard and heavy, as well as resistant to rot and warping. It also has naturally a fine finish and may be fashioned into walking canes, fence posts, tool handles, and even anchors. In Réunion and Mauritius it is known as ''bois matelot.'' In the Maldives this hardy wood was used in traditional shipbuilding to hold the plan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Suriana
''Suriana'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing only ''Suriana maritima'', which is commonly known as bay cedar. Distribution It has a pantropical distribution and can be found on coasts in the New and Old World tropics. Native to south Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and in some parts of the Old World tropical zone. Description Bay cedar is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually reaching a height of and sometimes reaching . The leaves are alternate, simple, long and wide. The grey-green, succulent foliage yields an aroma similar to that of cedar when crushed, hence the common name. Its yellow flowers are solitary or in short cymes among the leaves. Flowers have a diameter of when open, with petals long and sepals long. Bay cedar flowers throughout the year. After [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guettarda Speciosa
''Guettarda speciosa'', with common names sea randa, or zebra wood, is a species of shrub in the family Rubiaceae found in coastal habitats in tropical areas around the Pacific Ocean, including the coastline of central and northern Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia, and Pacific Islands, including Micronesia, French Polynesia and Fiji, Malaysia and Indonesia, Maldives and the east coast of Africa. It reaches 6 m in height, has fragrant white flowers, and large green prominently-veined leaves. It grows in sand above the high tide mark. Taxonomy and naming ''Guettarda speciosa'' was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in volume two of his ''Species Plantarum'' in 1753, citing Java as its origin. The genus was named in honour of the 18th century French naturalist Jean-Étienne Guettard, while the specific epithet is derived from the Latin ''speciosus'' 'showy'. It is the type species of the genus. Its closest relatives are all native to the neotropics, yet it has disp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ficus Tinctoria
''Ficus tinctoria'', also known as dye fig, or humped fig is a hemiepiphytic tree of genus ''Ficus''. It is also one of the species known as '' strangler fig''. It is found in Asia, Malesia, northern Australia, and the South Pacific islands. It grows in moist valleys. Palms are favorable host species. Root systems of dye fig can come together to be self sustaining but the epiphyte usually falls if the host tree dies or rots away. In Australia it is recorded as a medium-sized tree with smooth, oval green leaves. It is found often growing in rocky areas or over boulders. The leaves are asymmetrical. The small rust brown fruit of the dye fig are the source of a red dye used in traditional fabric making in parts of Oceania and Indonesia. The fruit is also edible and constitute as a major food source in the low-lying atolls of Micronesia and Polynesia Polynesia ( , ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Paci ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
