Pterophylla marquesana explained

Pterophylla marquesana, formerly known as Weinmannia marquesana, is a species of plant in the family Cunoniaceae. It is a shrub or tree endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia.

Description

Pterophylla marquesana is a shrub to a small tree, rarely a subshrub, (0.6-) 1.5 – 10 meters tall, with a trunk up to 35 cm in diameter. Its growth habit varies with elevation and exposure. Its crown is sometimes umbrella-shaped when it grows as a small tree. Leaves are elliptical or sometimes ovate, (2.5–) 3.3–7.5 (–9.6) cm long by (1–) 1.3–3.6 (–4.4) cm wide. Flowers are greenish-white to cream, with a greenish-red calyx and white corolla and stamens. Young fruits are green to bright carmine red. Its bark is smooth and grey, brown, or reddish in color. Its sapwood is white or pinkish, and its heartwood is red and fragrant.[1]

Range and habitat

Pterophylla marquesana grows on the islands of Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Tahuata, Ua Huka, and Ua Pou. It grows at mid- to high-elevations, typically above 500 to 600 meters elevation except on Nuku Hiva, where found from 790–1180 m.[1]

It is common in mid-elevation forests, which occur between 300 and 800 meters elevation on the larger islands. It a canopy tree, which together with Hibiscus tiliaceus, Pandanus tectorius, and Alphitonia marquesensis, forms the 20-meter high forest canopy. On Nuku Hiva it is the co-dominant canopy tree in montane forests above 790 meters elevation.[1]

It also occurs in dry scrub on rocky ridges and hilltops with the fern Dicranopteris, and in savannas and dry forest with Dicranopteris and Metrosideros trees.[1]

Varieties

There are three accepted varieties:

Notes and References

  1. Hopkins, Helen C.F. and Florence, Jacques 1998. A revision of Weinmannia (Cunoniaceae) in Malesia and the Pacific. 4. The Society, Marquesas and Austral Islands. Adansonia Sér. 3, 20 (1) 1998.
  2. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77234619-1 Pterophylla marquesana var. angustifolia (Lorence & W.L.Wagner) Pillon & H.C.Hopkins