Scinames:
Fitchia speciosa
Fitchia speciosa
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesRarotonga FitchiaEN
Local NamesNeineiRR No NameMG
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesFitchia speciosa (accepted name)
High Tax. Eng.Vascular Plant, Flowering Plant, Dicot, a tree,
High Tax. Latink.PLANTAE, p.ANTHOPHYTA, c.MAGNOLIOPSIDA, sc.ASTERIDAE, o.Asterales, f.ASTERACEAE
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRR++++MG+AT-MK-MT-AK-PL-MN-TK-
Nth. PresenceTN-MH-RK-PK-NS-SW-
VouchersMG2000
Local OriginNative; Resident; Endemic of Cook Is
Global RangeNative: Cooks (Rarotonga);
HabitatLand - Uplands - Slope Zone, Cloud Zone
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationA small tree to 5m, with slender prop-roots. LEAVES terminal clusters, opposite; large, wide-oval to 25x20cm, glossy, edge wavy without teeth, tip sharp; stalk long, to 20cm. FLOWER-HEAD: daisy-like with overlapping green bracts; large, to 10cmØ, commore...posed of ~100 separate orange flowers (= ray florets). FLOWERS each with orange cup-like petal; long central orange stigma, encircled by 5 black-tipped anthers. FRUIT: flat with two terminal spikes, brown.
Similar SpeciesNo Content
Interest NoteThe flower heads are strongly curved back towards the branchmore... to promote pollination by the oi (Rarotonga Starling), as it feeds on the copious supply of nectar.
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Vernacular Names
no data available
Threatened
no data available
Invasive/Pest Status
no data available
Biosecurity
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2024) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2024.11.27 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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