Psychotria hombroniana explained

Psychotria hombroniana (Chamorro: aplokating palaon; Chuukese: chimei; Palauan: demedemegur; Pohnpeian: kampaniel)^{[1] [2]} is shrub or tree in the family Rubiaceae that is endemic to the Caroline and Mariana Islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The genus Psychotia is a large group with highly variable traits, and taxonomic classification has been challenging. Eight distinct subspecies of Pychotria hombroniana are now recognized, five in the Caroline Islands and three in the Mariana Islands. Subspecies, their ranges, and their historic synonyms are listed below.

Caroline Islands

Psychotria hombroniana var. carolinensis (Valeton) - Caroline Islands^[5]

• Known as kampaniel, kempeniel, or kempenial in Palauan, and chimei in Chuukese)
• Synonyms:
  • Amaracarpus carolinensis Valeton (1930)
  • Amaracarpus carolinensis var. squarrosa Valeton (1930)
  • Amaracarpus heteropoides Valeton (1930)
  • Amaracarpus kraemeri Valeton (1930)
  • Psychotria carolinensis (Valeton) Fosberg (1940)
  • Psychotria hombroniana var. squarrosa (Valeton) Fosberg (1980)

Psychotria hombroniana var. hirtella (Valeton) Fosberg - Caroline Islands^[6]

• Synonyms:
  • Amaracarpus hirtellus Valeton (1930)
  • Amaracarpus macrophyllus Valeton (1930)
  • Psychotria ponapensis Fosberg (1940)

Psychotria hombroniana var. kusaiensis (Kaneh.) Fosberg - Kosrae^[7]

• Synonyms:
  • Amaracarpus kusaiensis Kaneh. (1935)
  • Amaracarpus kanehirae Hosok. (1935)

Psychotria hombroniana var. peliliuensis Fosberg - Palau^[8]

Mariana Islands

Psychotria hombroniana var. hombroniana - Mariana Islands^[9]

• Synonym:
  • Amaracarpus rotensis Hosok. (1935)

Psychotria hombroniana var. ladronica (Hosok.) Fosberg - Rota^[10]

• Synonyms:
  • Amaracarpus ladronicus (Hosok.) Hosok. (1935)
  • Psychotria ladronica Hosok. (1935)

Psychotria hombroniana var. mariannensis (Kaneh.) Fosberg - Alamagan^[11]

• Synonym:
  • Amaracarpus mariannensis Kaneh. in Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 48: 926 (1934)

Common names

The common names for Pyshotria hombroniana vary between the islands:

• Aplokating palaon

• chimei

• Demedemegur
• Rtertil

• Kampaniel, ke mpenial, kempeniel, or kempenial (mpen meaning nearby, and ial meaning path)

See also

List of endemic plants in the Mariana Islands

Notes and References

1. Book: Falanruw, Marjorie V. C. . Common and scientific names of trees and shrubs of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands . 1990 . U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station . PSW-26 . Berkeley, Calif. (P.O. Box 245, Berkeley 94701) . 3, 25–26, 33.
2. Book: Fosberg, F. Raymond . Smithsonian contributions to botany: Flora of Micronesia, 5: Bignoniaceae-Rubiaceae . Sachet . Marie-Hélène . Oliver . Royce L. . 1993 . Smithsonian Institution Press . 81 . Washington, D.C. . 102, 105.
3. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana (Baill.) Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
4. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. canfieldiae Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
5. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. carolinensis (Valeton) ined. Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
6. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. hirtella (Valeton) Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
7. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. kusaiensis (Kaneh.) Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
8. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. peliliuensis Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
9. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. hombroniana Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
10. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. ladronica (Hosok.) Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.
11. Web site: Psychotria hombroniana var. mariannensis (Kaneh.) Fosberg Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2023-10-21 . Plants of the World Online . en.