Deeringia amaranthoides
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Deeringia amaranthoides (Lam.) Merr.
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Family: Amaranthaceae
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Tongan Name: none English Name: none Reason for Listing: infrequency of collection Status: rare indigenous Suggestion Action: Nothing much can be done for this rare forest scandent shrub other than to protect its habitat in Tonga. In Tonga, it is known only from ‘Eua, and the preservation of native forest on this island, especially in the National Park, is very important. Indigenous to Tonga, widely ranging from Southeast Asia to Tonga and Fiji. It is restricted in Tonga to ‘Eua, where it occurs in limestone forest, probably from near sea level to ca. 200 m elevation . No local names or uses have been reported, probably because it is rare and a liana rather than a useful timber species. This is a new record for Tonga, since all the collections have been made in the last 30 or so years. Scandent shrub climbing into trees, with glabrous stems. Leaves simple, alternate; blade ovate to lanceolate, 3–11 cm long, rounded to truncate or subcordate at the base, acuminate and apiculate at the tip; surfaces glabrous; margins entire; petiole 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence a terminal, many-flowered panicle with long spicate branches up to 18 cm long borne perpendicular to the rachis. Calyx of 5 ovate, convex sepals 2–3 mm long, reflexed at anthesis, on a pedicel 0–1 mm long. Corolla absent. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with a short style bearing 3 (2) stigma lobes. Stamens 5, united at the base, exserted and spreading at anthesis, white. Fruit a subglobose red berry 5–7 mm in diameter. Flowering and fruiting probably occur throughout the year. Distinguishable by its scandent shrub habit; alternate, mostly ovate leaves; terminal panicle of long, spreading racemose branches; greenish flowers with 5 spreading white stamens; and a red berry. ‘EUA: |
