Geniostoma clavatum J. W. Moore

Geniostoma clavatum Moore

Geniostoma clavatum Moore, Bish. Mus. Bull. 102:38. 1933.

DESCRIPTION.—Shrub to 50 cm high, glabrous. Leaves sessile, or on petioles 1–2 mm long. Stipular sheath an entire collar 0.4 mm high. Blades ovate or elliptical, rarely orbicular, 1.5–2.8 × (0.8–) 1.1–2 cm, cuneate to rounded at base, acute to rounded at tip, stiff and coriaceous, olive in color, well-developed ones with 7 lateral veins. Cymes axillary, 1–5-flowered. Pedicels 1–4 mm long, bibracteolate at the middle. Flowers 5.2 mm long. Calyx 2 mm wide (not 4 as described); tube 0.8 mm long; lobes deltoid, 1.2 mm long, acute, minutely glandular-ciliolate. Corolla campanulate; tube 2 mm long; lobes ovate, 2 mm long, pilose at base. Filaments 0.6 mm long, pilose within; anthers 0.6 mm long. Ovary depressed-globose (not ovoid), 0.6 mm high, 1 mm broad, glabrous; style 1–1.3 mm long, glabrous; stigma oblong, 1 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm broad, papillate, slightly notched by a terminal suture. Capsule ovate, 6–8 mm long, 3 mm wide, black. Seeds ovate, 1 mm long, light brown, finely reticulate, embedded in the ferrugineous placentae.

The description of the flowers is largely from Grant 5219, put up in fixative at the time of collection. The pistil is slightly larger and the ovary somewhat differently shaped than described by Moore, otherwise the material checks fully with the type.

Possibly this is a local derivative of G. rupestre sensu lato, but on morphological grounds it is clearly a distinct species. It exhibits the reduction in size (stature, leaves, and fruits) characteristic of the other Temehani endemics, but has larger flowers and longer styles.

TYPE.—Collected by Moore in Raiatea.

RANGE.—Society Islands: Raiatea, Mt. Temehani: Moore 473, Te Apoo, alt, 470 m, wet clay soil, 1 January 1927, flower and fruit (BISH, type; MIN); Grant 5219, Te Apoo, alt. 600 m (1970 ft), 29 January 1931, flower (BISH, MIN); St. John 17258 pro parte, alt. 600 m, high moor, 5 October 1934, fruit (BISH).