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Rare Plants of Tonga
Citation: Whistler, W.A. 2011. The Rare Plants of Tonga. Conservation International. CEPF.
Locality: Kingdom of Tonga (-21.178933, -175.198042) Abstract: A checklist of 97 rare flowering plant species are presented. 30 species have been selected for recommendation for inclusion on the Red List of Tonga plants produced by the IUCN. These are discussed in more detail, arranged in the following categories: Tongan endemics, represented by six species; indigenous non-orchid species, represented by 19 species; and indigenous orchid species, represented by five species. Additionally, eight non-native species have also be selected for recommended for inclusion on the Red List. These species should also be considered for some kind of status, since these are either ancient Polynesian weeds possibly threatened over their entire range, or traditional cultigens possibly threatened over their entire range. They are divided into Polynesian adventives, represented by three species; and Polynesian cultigens, represented by five species. For details on the 30 recommended species, see their complete descriptions in the species profiles. Funded by Conservation International and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
Families: 45
Genera: 88
Species: 98
Total Taxa: 98
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Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection Polyalthia amicorum A.C. Sm. - none
Endemic, Tree, reduction in cultivation Indigenous, Liana, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson - stink lily
Polynesian cultigen, Herb, reduction in cultivation Indigenous, Tree, Its frequency on Niuafo‘ou should be determined, and an effort should be made to protect the native forests in which it occurs. Indigenous, Palm, restricted distribution and infrequency of collection Tylophora samoensis A. Gray - none
Indigenous, Vine, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Polynesian adventive, Herb, infrequency of modern collection Blumea milnei Seem. - none
Indigenous, Herb, restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands, and its disappearance from elsewhere in Polynesia (Samoa) Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection and restriction to a threatened habitat Polynesian adventive, Herb, infrequency of collection, especially modern collection Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection, and restricted in Tonga to one island Rorippa sarmentosa (G.Forst. ex DC.) J.F.Macbr. - Polynesian cress
Polynesian adventive, Herb, infrequency of modern collection Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Capparis cordifolia Lam. - none
Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection Capparis quiniflora DC. - none
Indigenous, Liana, infrequency of collection Crateva religiosa G. Forst. - sacred garlic pear
Indigenous, Tree, restricted in Tonga to one island (with one old collection on another) Atuna racemosa Raf. - none
Polynesian cultigen, Tree, reduction in cultivation Parinari insularum A. Gray - none
Polynesian cultigen, Tree, reduction in cultivation Polynesian cultigen, Tree, reduction in cultivation Aneilema vitiense Seem. - none
Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection Luffa cylindrica M. Roem. - sponge gourd
Indigenous, Vine, infrequency of modern collection Indigenous, Vine, infrequency of modern collection Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. - wax gourd
Polynesian cultigen, Vine, reduction in cultivation and infrequency of collection Cucumis melo L. - snake cucumber
Polynesian cultigen, Vine, reduction in cultivation and infrequency of collection Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. - sponge gourd
Indigenous, Vine, infrequency of modern collection Indigenous, Herb, Little can be, or needs to be done for this plant, since although rare, it occurs on two isolated islands in a habitat there that does not appear to be threatened. Polynesian adventive, Sedge, Little can be done for this plant, other than to collect it and grow it in gardens. However, it is lawn weed that very amenable to growing in gardens. Indigenous, Sedge, restricted to a single locality in a threatened habitat Acalypha grandis Benth. - none
Indigenous, Shrub, restricted in Tonga to one island (with one old collection from another)
Status: rare indigenous or perhaps a Polynesian introduction Acalypha repanda Muell. Arg. - none
Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Croton microtiglium Burk. - none
Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection Phyllanthus amicorum Webster - none
Endemic, Shrub, endemic to one Tongan island Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. - wait-a-bit
Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Liana, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Liana, infrequency of collection Senna sophera (L.) Roxb. - none
Polynesian adventive, Sub-Shrub, apparently disappearing Serianthes melanesica Fosb. - none
Indigenous, Tree, restricted in Tonga to one island (with one other island record) Indigenous, Shrub, restricted in Tonga to one island group and infrequency of collection Polynesian adventive, Sub-Shrub, infrequency of modern collection Casearia buelowii Whistler - none
Endemic, Shrub, infrequency of collection and endemic to one island Scaevola gracilis Hook. f. - none
Indigenous, Shrub, restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands, limited elsewhere to Kermadecs Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq. - none
Polynesian cultigen, Tree, It is likely that the tree is no longer being planted or tended, and is in danger of disappearing from Tonga once the old trees die. The seeds should be planted in gardens, and seedlings distributed to any one who is interested. Plectranthus forsteri Benth. - none
Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection Sida samoensis Rech. - none
Indigenous, Sub-Shrub, apparently disappearing in Tonga Sterculia fanaiho Setch. - none
Indigenous, Tree, restricted in Tonga to one island (with one record from another) Aglaia heterotricha A.C. Sm. - none
Endemic, Tree, endemic to one island Dysoxylum tongense A.C. Sm. - none
Endemic, Tree, endemic to one Tongan island Myoporum sandwicense A.Gray - false sandalwood
Indigenous, Shrub, Other than surveying the cliffs of ‘Eua to determine if it is more common than the only known collection would indicate, nothing much can be done for this shrub other than to protect its habitat in Tonga. It is known in Tonga only from ‘Eua, and the Endemic, Shrub, endemic to one Tongan island Metrosideros polymorpha var. polymorpha - metrosideros
Polynesian cultigen, Tree, infrequency of collection and probably extirpated from Tonga Polynesian cultigen, Tree, reduction in cultivation Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Tree, Nothing much can be done for this tree other than to protect its habitat in Tonga. It is known in Tonga only from ‘Eua, and the preservation of native forest on this island, especially in the National Park, is very important. Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Liparis laydardii F. Muell. - none
Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection Phaius amboinensis Bl. - none
Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Phaius robertsii Muell. - none
Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Orchid, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Vine, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands (and an old record from a third) Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection Piper macropiper Pennant - none
Indigenous, Vine, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Endemic, Shrub, endemic to one Tongan island (with an old collection from another) Limnophila fragrans Seem. - limnophila
Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection Plumbago zeylanica L. - plumbago
Indigenous, Sub-Shrub, infrequency of collection and restriction in Tonga to one island Cenchrus caliculatus Cav. - Polynesian burr-grass
Indigenous, Grass, apparently disappearing and modern collections restricted to one island
Status: rare indigenous Indigenous, Grass, infrequency of collection Polynesian cultigen, Grass, reduction in cultivation and infrequency of collection Portulaca lutea Sol. ex G.Forst. - tamole
Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection Ventilago vitiensis A. Gray - none
Indigenous, Liana, infrequency of collection Indigenous, Shrub, restricted in Tonga to one island Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection Endemic, Tree, endemic to one Tongan island Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Arytera bifoliata Whistler - none
Endemic, Shrub, endemic to one Tongan island Sapindus saponaria L. - none
Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection Polynesian cultigen, Tree, reduction in cultivation Lycium sandwicense A.Gray - none
Indigenous, Shrub, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Nicotiana fragrans Hooker - none
Indigenous, Herb, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to one island Solanum ferox L. - Polynesian tomato
Polynesian cultigen, Shrub, infrequency of collection, and probably extirpated from Tonga Indigenous, Tree, infrequency of collection and restricted in Tonga to a pair of islands Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew - Polynesian nettle
Polynesian adventive, Herb, apparently disappearing |
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Development of the Consortium of Pacific Herbaria and several of the specimen databases have been
supported by National Science Foundation Grants (BRC 1057303,
ADBC 1304924
and ADBC1115116).
Data Usage Policy. Continued support provided by the Symbiota Support Hub, a domain of iDigBio (NSF Award #2027654).
Copyright 2015 University of Hawai‘i.
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