Tournefortia argentea L.f.

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
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Messerschmidia argentea (IJnnaeus f.) Johnston, Arnold Arb., Jour. 16:
164, 1935.
Widely branching shrub or small tree, up to 4 or more m. tall, young growth brittle,
densely whitish- or buff-pubescent. Leaves alternate, clustered near the ends of the
branches, obovate to spatulate, entire, wedge-shaped at the base, apex obtuse, densely sil-
very hairy» Flowers numerous, small, white, ses.silfe, in large, branching, long-pedunculate,
scorpioid cymose clusters. Fruit round, 4-parted, about 7 mm. in diameter,
Common on rocky cliffs near the sea (9737, 10190). The flowers and leaves
are used ift preparing native medicines for the reduction of swellings, and the
wood is used for fuel. English name, velvet leaf; native names, toihune, toi-
DEPAUW UNIV.’ HERBARIUM 28958
HERBARIUM. T-G- yuncker
Flora of Niue Island
Herbarium of Bernice P. Bishop Museum
i no. 9737
Messerschmidia argentea (L.) Johnst.
Tvee 4-5 m. tall; corolla whit©. On
sea clIffs near Alofl. 10-15 alt.
Jan. 18, 1940.	1 Taihune taane
Presented to DPU Herbarium
by T.-G. Yuncker
Coll. T. Q. Yunckek
Ditt.	M
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