Guettarda speciosa

Kerr, Alexander M., 2023, Katot yan panao: A case study of indigenous botanical nomenclature in the scientific literature, Micronesica 2023 (3), pp. 1-20 : 6

GUETTARDA SPECIOSA L.

The third and final species to be discussed here is a member of the large and varied dicot family Rubiaceae , the gardenias, maddows, and bedstraws, with over 13,500 species among about 611 genera ( POWO 2023) and found worldwide. One genus, the tropical to subtropical Asian Guettarda L., consists of about 145 species ( POWO 2023) of shrubs to medium-sized trees, including G. speciosa L., which is found from eastern Africa throughout Austral and southeastern Asia and the tropical Pacific Ocean, including the Mariana Islands of Aguiguan, Guam, Rota, Saipan, and Tinian ( Fosberg et al. 1979), as well as Alamagan ( Vogt & Williams 2004). It is typical of Oceanic backstrand environments where it grows tallest, rarely to 15 m, but can be found inland in the Marianas as an uncommon shrubby tree over limestone basement, tolerating open canopy and poor soils, such as cliff edges and karstic terrain ( Raulerson & Rinehart 2018). This species can be superficially similar in growth form and leaf anatomy to the two aforementioned species when encountered in marginal habitat ( Fig. 3A ). That is, it can also present as a small irregular tree with branches that are smooth and bear abscission scars and terminal whorls of large oblong leaves with conspicuous midrib and lateral veins ( Fig. 3B ). However, the species is most easily distinguished from the others by broader scalloped leaves with pale non-impressed veins and especially the fragrant tubular white flowers arranged in cymes ( Fig. 2C ) that produce small woody spheroid fruit ( Fig. 2D ).

Figures

Figure 2. Claoxylon marianum Muell.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae), Guam. A) Common habitus as shrubby tree (94524278). B) Toothed leaves crowded at branch terminus (86964495). C) Male flowers and buds (153656635). D) Female flowers and fruit (86964496). Image numbers from iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org); photographers: N. Sablan (A, C), M. Martinez (B, D); licensing: © the author with permission (A, C), CC BY-NC (B, D).

Figure 3. Guettarda speciosa L. A) Common habitus as shrubby tree, Guam (130198175). B) Leaves crowded at branch terminus, Guam (12922175). C) Flowers and buds, Saipan (7100716). D) Fruit, Aitutaki, Cook Islands (163554764). Image numbers from iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org); photographers: C. Certeza (A), M. Freedman (B), M. Kargul (C), A. Chapman (D); licensing: CC BY-NC (A–C), CC BY-NC-SA (D).