Aglaia greenwoodii A.C.Sm.
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Authority
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Studies of Pacific Island plants, X. The Meliaceae of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 30: 469-522.
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Family
Meliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type locality: near Wainikoro, Province of Mathuata, Vanua Levu, Fiji; type, Greenwood 500A, cited below.
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Description
Description - The species is usually reported as a tree, often slender, 5-12 m. high or perhaps larger, rarely as a shrub as low as 1 m. in height. The flower-buds are greenish white, the petals at anthesis being brown without and yellow within; the fruit is bright red or reddish orange or brown.
Local Names and Uses - Recorded local names are tawatawa (region of Nalotawa), tombuthe (in Ea), malandamu (Wainunu River, Thakaundrove), and waithavuthavu (Mathuata). In Ra, Degener noted that the wood was lised for house building, while I was informed that in Mathuata the trunks of saplings are used to make spears.
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Discussion
The cited specimens have sometimes been confused in herbaria with A. elegans, but the two species are quite distinct in type of indument, although superficially their foliage is somewhat similar. Actually, the relationship of A. greenwoodii seems to be with A. basiphylla, but this should not be positively stated because of the lack of flowers for the latter species? The presence of a pair of basal stipule-simulating leaflets on the leaves of A. basiphylla distinguishes that species, to which, on the basis of foliage alone, A. greenwoodii is admittedly close.