Synonym(s): Capparis richii A. Gray, Capparis sandwichiana sensu Yuncker; non DC.
Tongan Name: none
English Name: none
Reason for Listing: infrequency of collection
Status: rare indigenous (a new record)
Suggestion Action: Nothing much can be done specifically for this species, but the protection of native forests in the National Park and other areas on ‘Eua is the most useful measure that can be taken.
Indigenous to Tonga, ranging from the Celebes and Australia eastward to Tonga.It is known in Tonga from only two modern collections, one from Tongatapu and one from ‘Eua, and these specimens represent a new record for the species in Tonga.It is reported on ‘Eua from limestone cliffs at 60 m elevation, and on Vava‘u in limestone forest at 95 m elevation.It is also infrequent in Fiji, where it is known from only a few collections.No local names or uses are reported, because of its rarity and its not having useful timber.
Liana or scandent shrub with glabrous stems with stout sharp, recurved stipular thorns 1–3 mm long on sterile branches.Leaves simple, alternate; blade narrowly lanceolate (on sterile branches) to ovate (on fertile branches), 7–10 cm long, rounded at the base, acute to acuminate at the tip; surfaces glabrous; margins entire; petiole 5–20 mm long.Inflorescence of 2–10-flowered terminal racemes up to 5 cm or more long, bearing caducous bracts.Calyx of 4 free, ovate sepals 3–5 mm long, in 2 pairs, imbricate, the outer ones strongly concave and enclosing the bud, on a pedicel 6–20 mm long.Corolla of 4 free, ovate to elliptic, white petals 5–7 mm long, subequal, the lower 2 free, the upper 2 fused at the base.Ovary superior, 1-celled, borne on a long gynophore; stigma sessile, small.Stamens 7–12, free, 2–2.7 cm long, exserted, white.Fruit a subglobose to ellipsoid, many-seeded capsule 2–4 cm long, on a thickened pedicel up to 5 cm long.Flowering and fruiting probably occur throughout the year.
Distinguishable by its liana or scandent shrub habit; stipular thorns on sterile branches; alternate ovate to lanceolate leaves; several-flowered terminal racemes; 4-merous, white flowers; ovary borne on a long gynophore; 7–12 long-exserted stamens; and capsule fruit.
‘EUA: Buelow 1860—Near ocean cliff halfway between Vaingara and the cliff descending to Lokupo at 60 m elevation.
VAVA‘U: Buelow 1442—South slope of Mt. Talau growing over a Maniltoa tree at ca. 95 m elevation.
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).
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