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Tetragonia tetragonoides

(Pall.) Kuntze (1891)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Aizoaceae Genus: Tetragonia

New Zealand spinach

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual succulent, stout herbs.

Stems: Branches numerous, spreading or procumbent, 3–15 dm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades deltate to rhombic–ovate, 2–12 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide. Apex obtuse to acute. Base truncate to cuneate, abruptly constricted to petiole. Surfaces pubescent with bladder-like hairs. Margins entire to undulate. Petioles winged, 1–1.5 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers axillary 1(2), adventitious buds sometimes arise from the calyx, producing flowers that are occasionally fertile. Flowers bisexual (perfect) or sometimes unisexual. Calyx of 4(5) sepals, green externally, yellow within, spreading, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 10–20, greenish yellow. Ovary inferior, 3–8 celled, subsessile.

Fruit: Fruit nut-like; fleshy when young; dry and indurate with age; turbinate; angled; ca. 10 mm long; the apex with 2–5 horn-like projections from which another flower or branchlet is occasionally produced. Seeds usually 1 per cell; reniform; ca. 2 mm in diameter.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 32

Habitat: Coastal zones.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized
Nihoa Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, Japan and South America; in Hawai‘i cultivated and established in scattered coastal sites.

Bibliography

Name Published In: Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 264 (1891)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:178 (N, K, O, H [as T. tetragonioides]); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:7 (WM); Starr & Martz 2000:10 (Mi); Starr et al. 2003:23 (EM); Staples & Herbst 2005:96 (KEY), 98 (DESCR); Starr et al. 2006:31 (Mo); Oppenheimer 2010:33 (L); McNeill et al. 2012:131 (spelling change to tetragonoides); Starr & Starr 2008/Starr 990510-5 BISH (Mi†, 1999)

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tetragonia tetragonoides Mokuleia Beach Naturalized after being planted by Otto Degener. Preserved_Specimen Central stem erect with extensive system of prostrate branches, leaves fleshy, covered with tiny distended cells; eaten as potherb. Fosberg, F.R. 29913 Oahu BISH 1948-05-09
2 Tetragonia tetragonoides S of Iwiole Gulch waste area Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50805 Lanai BISH 2008-05-27
3 Tetragonia tetragonoides Nr. Coast, Halawa Valley Vegetation: Sesuvium portulacastrum, Vigna marina, Tournefortia argentea Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb in a few patches. Starr, F. 5051713 Molokai BISH 2005-05-17
4 Tetragonia tetragonoides Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park on SE corner of Hanamaulu Bay Very common. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate succulent. Flynn, T.W. 1068 Kauai BISH 1985-04-11
5 Tetragonia tetragonoides East Maui, Paia Bay, near parking area In sand. Associated vegetation: Asystasia gangetica. Preserved_Specimen Succulent herb; fruit yellow, small. Starr, F. 201092 Maui BISH 2002-01-09
6 Tetragonia tetragonoides East Maui, Makawao District, Kula, Kolohala Rd, abandoned area In patches ca. 1.5m x 1m along roadside. Associated vegetation: Acacia mearnsii, Pennisetum clandestinum. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate (crawling) herb <1dm ht; leaves alternate, deltate, succulent with slightly furry pubescence; flowers small, yellow; fruit nut-like, fleshy, w. horn-like projections. Starr, F. 108213 Maui BISH 2001-08-21
7 Tetragonia tetragonoides W Maui, mouth of Pohakupule stream coastal srand Preserved_Specimen annual herb to 20cm Annable, C.R. 3916 Maui BISH 1999-02-16
8 Tetragonia tetragonoides S side of beach On shelves along cliff. Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 80 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-17
9 Tetragonia tetragonoides Kapapa, Oahu Here and there. Preserved_Specimen Occasional. Starr, F. 5041845 Oahu BISH 2005-04-18
10 Tetragonia tetragonoides W Maui, near mouth of Pohakupule Stream Strand vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 302 Maui BISH 1998-04-14
11 Tetragonia tetragonoides N Kohala District, lands of Kealahewa In abandoned sugar cane field. Preserved_Specimen Weed. Herbst, D.R. 5620 Hawaii BISH 1976-01-20
12 Tetragonia tetragonoides Pohakupili Stream Under large Tournefortia tree near stream mouth. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 120617 Molokai BISH 2006-12-08
13 Tetragonia tetragonoides East Maui, Kula, by Rice Park In patches ca. 1.5m x 1m along roadside. Associated vegetation: Acacia mearnsii, Pennisetum clandestinum. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate (crawling) herb <1dm ht; leaves alternate, deltate, succulent with slightly furry pubescence; flowers small, yellow; fruit nut-like, fleshy, w. horn-like projections. Starr, F. 108211 Maui BISH 2001-08-21
14 Tetragonia tetragonoides S side of beach Cliff. Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 2 Nihoa BISH 1924-07-09
15 Tetragonia tetragonoides West Maui, Lahaina Distr., Honokahua, Oneloa Beach Growing in a sand dune. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 99805 Maui BISH 1998-09-21
16 Tetragonia tetragonoides S side of beach On shelves along cliff. Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 80 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-17
17 Tetragonia tetragonoides East Maui, Kula, Kula Hwn, by telephone substation In patches ca. 1.5m x 1m along roadside. Associated vegetation: Acacia mearnsii, Pennisetum clandestinum. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate (crawling) herb <1dm ht; leaves alternate, deltate, succulent with slightly furry pubescence; flowers small, yellow; fruit nut-like, fleshy, w. horn-like projections. Starr, F. 108212 Maui BISH 2001-08-21
18 Tetragonia tetragonoides Lihue District, Niumalu flat, tidal flats of Huleia Stream at Nawiliwili Bay Preserved_Specimen Prostrate, semi-succulent herb. Flynn, T.W. 2133 Kauai BISH 1987-04-03
19 Tetragonia tetragonoides Haleiwa Alii Beach Park HUMAN_OBSERVATION Imada, C. Oahu 3/14/2009
20 Tetragonia tetragonoides Kalaupapa Preserved_Specimen succulent short annual herb (Not on sheet) 13508 Molokai BISH 2005-02-11
21 Tetragonia tetragonoides Haleiwa Alii Beach Park HUMAN_OBSERVATION Imada, C. Oahu 3/14/2009
22 Tetragonia tetragonoides Haleiwa Alii Beach Park HUMAN_OBSERVATION Imada, C. Oahu 3/14/2009
23 Tetragonia tetragonoides 127 Dowsett Ave, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Flower yellow Brown, F.B.H. 1460 Oahu BISH 1927-05-07
24 Tetragonia tetragonoides Diamond Head Community Garden, betw Paki & Leahi Ave, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Sprawling herb to 18 in diameter, stems & lvs firm-fleshy, flws pale yellow, birne sessile in fl. Staples, G.W. 600 Oahu BISH 1990-05-15
25 Tetragonia tetragonoides Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1939-09-27
26 Tetragonia tetragonoides Mokuleia, upper edge of beach In sand. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1935-05-11
27 Tetragonia tetragonoides Manana, Oahu west wall of crater rim Preserved_Specimen Rare. One 20 m x 15 m. patch on west wall of crater rim. First collected during this survey. Starr, F. 5022514 Oahu BISH 2005-02-25
28 Tetragonia tetragonoides Near Makapuu Pt Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1406 Oahu BISH 1909-11-28
29 Tetragonia tetragonoides Coastal area E of Waialua Beach Park Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 3702 Oahu BISH 1979-02-11
30 Tetragonia tetragonoides Mokuauia Islet, Oahu in center of island Preserved_Specimen Rare. Two patches in center of island. Starr, F. 5022214 Oahu BISH 2007-02-22
31 Tetragonia tetragonoides Makiki Community Gardens located at the base of Manoa Valley in Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Mayeda, C.S. 18 Oahu BISH 1990-12-13
32 Tetragonia tetragonoides Bellows Beach Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. Oahu BISH 1984-11-01
33 Tetragonia tetragonoides Devil's Slide Preserved_Specimen Strazanac, J. Nihoa BISH 1990-06-26
34 Tetragonia tetragonoides Near Makapuu Pt Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1406 Oahu BISH 1909-11-28
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