What
Scrambling Clerodendrum (Volkameria inermis)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Aloalo tai (Clerodendrum inerme) is a member of the Verbenaceae family. It is an indigenous scandent shrub with weak, flexible stems that can grow up into the canopy if they are able to lean on other plants. It is common on rocky or sandy beaches. The leaves are occasionally used in native remedies for treating wounds, punctures, and inflammation.
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2000. Plants in Samoan Culture: The Ethnobotany of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Noni (Morinda citrifolia)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Nonu (Morinda citrifolia) is a member of the Rubiaceae (Coffee) family. It is a small tree or shrub up to 10 m in height, but usually much shorter, with a clear yellow sap, glabrous, 4-angled stems, and large, rounded, interpetiolar stipules 4-14 mm long; chocolate-brown bark, longitudinally grooved, off-white bark, and cream-colored wood. Nonu has opposite leaves; 4-angled young stems; heads of small white 5-lobed flowers borne in a head on a stalk opposite an unpaired leaf; and large, translucent whitish, faceted, foul-smelling fruit.
This tree is native to Southeast Asia and Australia, but is believed to be an ancient introduction throughout Polynesia as far east as Hawaii. It occurs on nearly all the high islands in its Polynesian range. Nonu is also occasional-to-common in littoral to foothill forests, and is often disturbed places and lava flow scrub, reported from near se level to 500 m elevation. The foul-smelling fruit is a famine food. It has medicinal uses throughout its range, and in the Samoan Archipelago it is used to treat boil, inflammations, “ghost sickness”, and a variety of other ailments. And the nectar is a favorite food of honeyeaters.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI
What
Syzygium dealatumObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Asi Vai (Syzygium dealatum) is a member of the Myrtaceae (Myrtle) family. It is a medium-sized tree up to 15 m in height with glabrous, quadrangular, and slightly winged young stems; bark is gray-brown, rough and striate, corky white beneath, tan inner bark and wood; opposite leaves; terminal, many-flowered inflorescences; many showy stamens; and a purple fruit.
This tree is indigenous to the Samoan Archipelago and elsewhere in western Polynesia occurring in Tonga, Niue, the Horne Islands, and ‘Uvea. It is occasional in coastal forests and less commonly in lowland forests, and has been reported from near sea level to 310 m elevation. And the seasonal fruits are eaten by pigeons and doves.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.)
Photos / Sounds
What
Elephant-foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Teve (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) is a member of the Araceae (Aroid) family. This species is a stemless herbaceous plant with an underground tuber up to 30 cm in diameter. The single leaf, which arises from the tuber after flowering, has a mottled petiole up to 1 m in height, and a large blade up to 1 m across, divided into three parts that are further pinnately lobed. The small, unisexual flowers are densely arranged together on a fleshy spadix arising from the ground, and surrounded by a large, foul-smelling, greenish-purple spathe.
It is a native to tropical Asia or Indo-Malaysia, but was an ancient introduction to eastward as far as Hawaii. In the Samoan Archipelago, it is uncommon in secondary forest, plantations, and other undisturbed places. The rhizome was formerly eaten as a famine food, but it requires much cooking since it is very acrid. The juice from the stems is sometimes dripped into the eye for treating eye ailments such as blurry vision. It is used to treat conjunctivitis.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2000. Plants in Samoan Culture: The Ethnobotany of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Eria rostrifloraObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Eria rostriflora is an erect epiphyte 15-35 cm tall. Pseudo bulbs clustered, erect, cylindrical, 4-25 cm long, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, leafy in apical part. Leaves distichous, ascending, linear-lanceolate or linear-lingulate, acute, 6-20 x 1-2 cm. Inflorescences 1-several, ascending, 5-20 cm long, laxly few to many-flowered, glabrous or sparsely hairy; peduncle short, less than 1 cm long. Flower pale creamy yellow to pale green, lip marked with a dark purple side lobes; pedicel and ovary 6-10 mm long.
Reference: (Cribb, Phillip & Whistler, W. Arthur. 1996. Orchids of Samoa. The Royal Botanic Gardens. United Kingdom.)
Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Bulbophyllum samoanum is a member of Orchidaceae family .It is a small epiphyte with a clustered or weakly spreading habit; rhizome short, 2 mm in diameter. Pseudo bulbs pear-shaped, 1.2-1.5 x 0.7-0.8 cm. Leaves oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, 6.5-14 cm long, 1-2.2 cm wide, slender petiolate. Inflorence erect, one-flowered, 6-12 cm long; peduncle short, terete, 1-3.5 cm long; bract minute, ovate, apiculate. Flower greenish yellow with reddish purple marking; pedicle and ovary 5-8.5 mm long. Lip very fleshy, slightly arcuate, ovate-sublinguiform, articulate at base, obtuse at apex, 2.5-4 x 1.5-2 mm; disc sulcate, glabrous. Column 3-4 mm long with two subulate apical satelidia; foot 2 mm long.
Reference:
Cribb, Phillip & Whistler, W. Arthur. 1996. Orchids of Samoa. The Royal Botanic Gardens. United Kingdom.
Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Oketi palapala (Didymoplexis micradenia) is a member of the Orchidaceae (Orchids) family. It is a saprophytic orchid that uses dead organic material as a source of food. This inconspicuous herb is unable to make its own food and must absorb it from organic material present in the soil.
Reference:
Cribb, Phillip & Whistler, W. Arthur. 1996. Orchids of Samoa. The Royal Botanic Gardens. United Kingdom.
What
Hyptis rhomboideaObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Vao Mini (Hyptis rhomboidea) is a member of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. It is an herbaceous weed that grows in undisturbed croplands.
Reference:
Vao Mini (Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.)
What
Embelia vaupeliiObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Fue Viole (Embelia vaupelii) is a member of the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family. It is native and occasional in slope and cloud forests; present in park boundaries.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Marbled Eel (Anguilla marmorata)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Anguilla marmorata (Gaimard, 1824) is a member of Anguillidae family, it referred to as tuna. It reaches a length of 100 cm or more, it may be distinguish from one another by their DA to GD ration, which is the distance from the beginning of the DORSAL fin to anus (DA), and the distance from the gill opening to the beginning of the DORSAL fin (GD). In one 60-cm long specimen the DA: GD was 6.14. A. mormorata has the characteristic mottling. Taxonomists distinguish among them by counting the number of vertebrae: 100- 110. Another way of distinguishing them by their teeth patterns, as for the vertebrae counts, the differences in teeth patterns are subtle.
Reference:
ASCC Community College & Stream Water Quality Group, Stream Fauna of American Samoa, 2009
Photos / Sounds
What
Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Soi (Dioscorea bulbifera) is a member of the Dioscoreaceae (Yam) family. It is a climbing vine of ancient introduction to the Samoan Archipelago, and is common as a weed of disturbed places and secondary forest. The aerial tubers were grated, washed repeatedly, and eaten in times of scarcity. These are apparently poisonous, at least during part of the year. The crushed aerial tubers are sometimes used in native remedies for treating boils, and are eaten by the tooth-billed pigeon.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2000. Plants in Samoan Culture: The Ethnobotany of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Genus FlacourtiaObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Tearina (Casearia samoense) is a member of the Flacortiaceae (Flacourtia) family. It is a small tree up to 6 m in height, with glabrous, longitudinally striate, somewhat zizag stems marked with small, light colored lenticels, and caducous ovate stipules up to 3 mm long; axillary clusters of bisexual, white, 4-parted flowers; and ovoid capsule containing red seeds.
This tree is endemic to the Samoan Archipelago, where it occasional in lowland to foothill forests, and has been reported from near sea level to 400 m elevation.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Genus AcaloleptaObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
The Avi’ivi’i or Giant longhorn beetle (Titanus giganteus) has very long antennae, over twice as long as the body. Its exoskeleton is heavily armored. Males have longer antennae than females. The adult’s brown color allows it to camouflage itself against the bark of trees. Their wing span is 6 in; total length of 3 in with the larvae 3 in long white, fleshy, elongated, with powerful jaws and tiny legs. Longhorn larvae are known as afato in Samoa and are collected and eaten by the natives of Samoa, Fiji, and elsewhere in the South Pacific.
The giant longhorn beetle of American Samoa is one of the world’s largest insects and a creature native to the tropical forests of the South Pacific. It is one of 20,000 species of longhorn beetles worldwide. Longhorn beetles are distinguished by their sharp, long, horn-like antennae; large, powerful jaws; and formidable size. The largest of the world’s longhorns are 6.7 in (17 cm) long, but American Samoa’s are less than half that size. They are also sparsely distributed throughout the South Pacific.
What
Dicots (Class Magnoliopsida)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Fue Lautetele (Merremia peltata) is an indigenous vine abundant in disturbed forest and plantations, sometimes climbing to the tops of trees.
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
Photos / Sounds
What
Polynesian Arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Masoa (Tacca leontopetaloides) is an indigenous herb occasional in littoral to lowland forest. Starch extracted from the tuber is used as food, most commonly as an additive to other foods. The partly cooked tuber is also used as glue for pasting sheets of tapa cloth together. The plant is infrequently used today, being replaced by cassava.
Reference:
Masoa (Tacca leontopetaloides) is an indigenous herb occasional in littoral to lowland forest. Starch extracted from the tuber is used as food, most commonly as an additive to other foods. The partly cooked tuber is also used as glue for pasting sheets of tapa cloth together. The plant is infrequently used today, being replaced by cassava.
What
Taputo’i (Lepidocupania brackenridgei)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Taputo’i (Arytera brackenridgei) is a member of the Sapindaceae (Soapberry) family. It is a medium-sized tree up to 10 m or more in height with young stems finely brown-scaly; bark gray, smooth except for fine vertical lines and a few obvious lenticels, with a dark brown layer beneath that easily flakes off, inner bark orange, wood is cream-colored; odd pinnately compound leaves; longitudinally ridgesd leaf rachis; tiny white flowers in axillary panicles; and 2-lobed capsule containing 2 black seeds surrounded by an orange aril.
This tree is indigenous to the Samoan Archipelago and ranges from Vanuatu to western Polynesia. It is occasional in coastal to lower montane forest, especially in secondary forest and lava flows; reported from near sea level up to 550 m elevation.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Gingers, Bananas, and Allies (Order Zingiberales)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Costus speciosus (crepe or wild ginger) is a member of the Zingiberaceae family. It was seen naturalizing on Tutuila Island in 1998. This is a potentially troublesome species that produces vegetatively and can grow in either full sun or shaded forest understories. It thrives in areas of disturbance and is considered a weedy species in French Polynesia.
Reference:
Space, James C. & Flynn, Tim. 1999. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa.
Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.)
Lomagramma cordipinna is a member of the Dryopteridaceae family. It is native and common in park boundaries. This species is a creeping fern that is equally at home on the ground or climbing high on tree trunks. It is an abundant ground cover fern in inland forests.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Waxflower (Hoya australis)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Fue Selela (Hoya australis) is a member of the Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) family. It is a semi-woody, climbing or prostrate vine with a milky sap; simple, oppositely arranged leaves have a thick, fleshy, elliptic to rounded blade 5-15 cm long; waxy white flowers with red center, 13-18 mm in diameter, borne in axillary umbrels; fruit is a pointed, narrow, cylindrical follicle up to 15 cm long, splitting along one side to release the numerous seeds.
Fue selela is native from Vanuatu and Australia eastward to the Samoan Archipelago. This wide distribution can be attributed to its plumed seeds that are carried long distances in air currents. It is most commonly found climbing over low vegetation in littoral areas and as an epiphyte in coastal to lowland forest, but occasionally occurs in forest and scrub vegetation at up to 600 m elevation. An infusion of the crushed leaves is commonly taken as a potion or is applied to the skin for treating various kinds of inflammation. The leaves are often used as an applicator for spreading coconut cream onto skin sores that usually occur on the head, and an infusion of the crushed leaves is also used for treating various internal pains.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Taamu (Alocasia macrorrhiza) is a member of the Araceae (Aroid) family. It is one of a few important root crop plants in the Samoan Archipelago, and is a native of the Old World tropics between India and Melanesia. The corm extends above the surface of the ground; large and long in length; after being cooked, it has a stringy, fibrous texture, and requires more cooking because of the presence of high concentrations of oxalate crystals that are extremely irritating to the throat. It can be grown in dry and rocky places, and does not need to be harvested at a certain time. They frequently flower and fruit, and are occasionally found semi-naturalized in forest areas.
Rference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2000. Plants in Samoan Culture: The Ethnobotany of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
The Manu Palagi or Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) can reach a height of 20 cm. It is a conspicuous bird, easily recognized by the combination of its dark, almost black plumage, black erectile crest, white rump, and scarlet vent. The tail is dark black-brown with white tips. The sexes are similar, but the males are larger. They generally have a direct flight with rapid wingbeats, although they frequently undulate over short distances displaying the conspicuous white rump. These birds have a wide variety of calls, ranging from a fairly clear whistle to a harsh chatter. The usual call is a two or three syllable pee-plo, pee pee plo.
The bulbuls are omnivores with a diet that consists of fruits and berries, and a small portion of insects. Bulbuls are confined to man-modified habitats but may also be found in forested areas, but generally in association with roads, river flood plains, or forest clearings. They also frequently take nectar from a variety of flower types and small geckos and skinks are eaten on occasion. Their nests are constructed of rootlets, dry grass, pieces of vine and sometimes artificial fibers and are lined with soft grass or hair. Two or three white eggs with red spots are laid by the female. It is native to India and southwest Asia, and was introduced to the Pacific west region.
`
Segasegamau’u (Watling, Dick and Kelly, Chloe Talbot. 2001. A Guide to the Birds of Fiji & Western Polynesia. Environmental Consultants (Fiji) Ltd. Fiji.)
The Segasegamau’u (Myzomela cardinalis) or Cardinal Honeyeater displays a wide habitat tolerance, similar to the Orange-breasted Myzomela in Fiji, and is one of the most commonly encountered birds in Samoa. It is endemic to Fiji and found in Samoa, American Samoa, Vanuatu, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, eastern Solomon Islands, and north of much of Micronesia. Males are black with vivid scarlet upper parts, chin and throat. The back is slightly mottled with black. Females are drab olive-grey with paler underparts and a scarlet rump and lower back. The bird can reach 9 cm in height during adulthood. During flight, it is fast and direct. Primarily a nectar feeder, it also gleans extensively for small insects. When foraging it releases a high-pitched zeet that is frequently given. The small cup-shaped nest is built on forked branches, generally constructed of grass cuttings. Three to five white eggs with a few red spots are laid.
Reference:
Watling, Dick and Kelly, Chloe Talbot. 2001. A Guide to the Birds of Fiji & Western Polynesia. Environmental Consultants (Fiji) Ltd. Fiji.
What
Chinese Ground Orchid (Phaius tankervilleae)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Oketi-ole-la (Phaius tankervilleae) is a common terrestrial orchid species present at higher elevations (summit scrub) that are tall, erect, and attractive.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Oberonia heliophilaObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Oberonia heliophila is a very short stemmed epiphyte up to 55 cm long. Leaves distichous, imbricate at base, equitant, linear to lanceolate, slightly falcate, accumulate, 14-40 x 0.7-1.4 cm. Inflorescence 25-45 cm long , densely to sparsely tormentors, densely many-flowered; bracts oblong-ovate, subacute, erose on margin. Flowers subverticillate, yellow to orang-yellow, the lip darker; ovary 1 mm long, glabrous.
Epiphyte found the coastal to montane forests; near sea-level to 550 m.
Reference: (Cribb, Phillip & Whistler, W. Arthur. 1996. Orchids of Samoa. The Royal Botanic Gardens. United Kingdom.)
What
Banana Bush (Tabernaemontana pandacaqui)Observer
tavita_togia2016Description
Pulu (Tabernaemontana pandacaqui) is a member of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family. It is a small tree or shrub up to 3 m or more in height with glabrous stems and a white sap; bark is light-colored, marked by inconspicuous lenticels, fibrous; opposite leaves; small white trumpet-shaped flowers that are yellow within; and a paired, curved, orange fruits spreading apart at maturity to expose the large red seed.
This tree is indigenous to the Samoan Archipelago and ranges from Thailand to Polynesia. Its Polynesian range includes Tonga, the Society Islands, and the Tuamotus. It is uncommon and little-known in coastal and lowland forests, and has been reported from near sea level to 250 m elevation. The sap is occasionally used medicinally.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.
What
Homalanthus nutansObserver
tavita_togia2016Description
Fogamamala (Omalanthus nutans) is a member of the Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) family. It is a small tree up to 10 m in height, with glabrous stems, a thinly milky sap, and lanceolate stipules up to 3.2 cm long. Fogamamala also has alternating, triangular to ovate leaf blade on a long red petiole; small greenish unisexual flowers (male ones in racemes, female solitary and long-stalked); and irregularly lens-shaped red fruits with 2 or 3 persistent, lateral styles.
This tree is indigenous to the Samoan Archipelago and ranges from New Caledonia eastward to the Society Islands. It is common in disturbed places from lowland to cloud forest, and has been reported from 25 to 1500 m elevation. The leaves were formerly used for dressing super-incision wounds of males. The tree has recently found notoriety, since an extract has been shown by some researchers to have preliminary promise in killing the HIV virus, although it has rarely been used traditionally to treat viral diseases. The stems are used for children’s spears and roof parts, but the wood is otherwise of little use other than for firewood.
Reference:
Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.