Achyranthes atollensis

H.St.John (1980)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Achyranthes

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs 1–2 m tall.

Stems: Stems erect to decumbent.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades obovate to elliptic, 2–6.2 cm long, 1.2–3.8 cm wide. Surfaces densely white or yellow strigose, the leaf surfaces completely obscured, the hairs usually straight and sometimes some of them spreading, 2.5–3 mm long. Margins usually entire or nearly so. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in spikes congested, 8–17 cm long, the rachis densely tomentose, 3–7 mm in diameter (incl. hairs), each flower partially embedded among the hairs. peduncles 1.5–2.5 cm long. subtended by a lanceolate, acuminate to spine–tipped bract 3–4 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx of 5 sepals, sepals subequal, 5.5–6 mm long, glabrous, apex acute. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 2–5, connate at base; anthers dithecal. Ovary superior; ovule 1; style slender; stigma capitate.

Fruit: Utricles 3–4 mm long. Seeds 1 per fruit; the surface usually lustrous; endosperm essentially absent.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Formerly scattered on low sand islands of the Northwestern Hawaiian islands.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Mokupāpapa (Kure atoll) Endemic
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Endemic
Manawai (Pearl & Hermes Atoll) Endemic
Kamole(Laysan Island) Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Pacific Sci. 33: 334 (1979 publ. 1980)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:181 (Ku, Mi, PH, La); Wood et al. 2019 (EXTINCT); Starr et al. 2001/Lamoureux 2794 BISH (Ku†, 1964); Bryan s.n. BISH 22448 (Mi†, 1902); Carlquist 2314 BISH (PH†, 1966); Bryan s.n. BISH 22455 (La†, 1903)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Several clumps 1 m tall, conspicuous by its silvery leaves. Lamoureux, C.H. 2794 Kure Atoll BISH 1964-08-15
2 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In a small patch of sand close to high water. Preserved_Specimen Bryan, W.A. Laysan Island BISH 1903-04-01
3 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen 30 cm high. Wilder, G.P. 3 Pearl & Hermes Atoll BISH 1923-05-18
4 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In mats of Tribulus cistoides in coral rubble, with Solanum nelsonii Preserved_Specimen Shrub ca. 2' high; reflexed bracts purple. Carlquist, S. 2314 Pearl & Hermes Atoll BISH 1966-09-21
5 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Slight depression in sand, with Solanum & Eragrostis. Preserved_Specimen Long, C.R. 2298 Pearl & Hermes Atoll BISH 1964-09-17
6 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Central plain Preserved_Specimen Plant to 2 m. high. Only 3 or 4 bushes seen. Caum, E.L. 17 Kure Atoll BISH 1923-04-18
7 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 50 Pearl & Hermes Atoll BISH 1923-04-27
8 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lamoureux, C.H. 1875 Kure Atoll BISH 1961-09-12
9 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Schauinsland, H.H. Laysan Island BISH 1896-07-06
10 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 17 Kure Atoll BISH 1923-04-18
11 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lamoureux, C.H. 1894 Kure Atoll BISH 1961-09-12
12 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Bryan, W.A. BISH 1902-07-30
13 Achyranthes atollensis Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Central plain Preserved_Specimen Plant to 2 m. high. Only 3 or 4 bushes seen. Caum, E.L. 17 Kure Atoll BISH 1923-04-18