Turnera subulata Hitchc., Turneraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: white alder

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herb, often woody at the base, 30-80 cm high, with a frequently very strong taproot; stems terete, leafy over a considerable length, densely appressed pubescent.  Leaves not crowded, ovate-elliptic or ovate-oblong from a cuneate entire base, acute or rather obtuse, very distinctly dentate-serrate, rather densely gland-dotted beneath, on both surfaces, especially the lower, appressed white-pubescent (hairs on the nerves longer and more closely set), 1 3/4-9 cm by 3/4-4 cm; midrib and usually also the erecto-patent lateral nerves distinctly prominent beneath.  Petiole with 2 rather large apical lateral glands, appressed hairy, 1/2-1 1/4 cm long.  Stipules erect, very minute, long-hairy.  Flowers in the higher leaf-axils.  Pedicel 1/3-1/2 cm.  Bracteoles at the calyx-base, broadest at the base, very acute.  Calyx densely appressed pubescent and gland-dotted without, glabrous within except on the pilose base; tube rather abruptly widened in the upper half 1/2-3/4 cm long; segments narrow, very acute, 1-1 1/2 cm long.  Petals with a slightly hairy, 3-4 mm long claw, blade obovate, broadly rounded, entire, above the claw glabrous, finally above the base much spreading or subreflexed, 2-3 1/2 cm by 1 3/4-2 1/2 cm.  Filaments with broad membranous-margined bases; anthers inserted dorsally a little above their base.  Ovary ovoid, densely clothed with appressed white hairs, with 3 glabrous apical depressions (style-scars).  Capsule ovoid, obtuse, finely verruculose, hairy, rather thick-walled.  Seeds subprismatical, on one end crowned by a semiglobular boss, brownish yellow, 2 3/4-3 by ± 4/5-1 mm; aril white" (Van Steenis, 1948; pp. 236-237).

Habitat/ecology:  In Indonesia, "Inhabitant of sunny localities, fields, waste places, railway embankments, railway yards, old brick walls, 10-250 m, locally often copious" (Van Steenis, 1948; pp. 236-237).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Brazil (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2005) (p. 22) Rare.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 11, 87)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 11, 83)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 11, 83)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Van Steenis, C. G. G. J. (1948) (pp. 4:236-237)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, Barbara (year unknown)

Comments:  Reported to be somewhat weedy in Malaysia (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.).  See also Turnera ulmifolia.

Additional information:  Additional online information about Turnera subulata is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Turnera subulata may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 2005. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 23 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Van Steenis, C. G. G. J. 1948. Flora Malesiana, Series I. Noordhoff-Kolff, Djakarta. 1948-1954, 14 volumes.

Waterhouse, Barbara. 0. Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.