Photos / Sounds

Observer

tavita_togia2016

Date

May 17, 2016

Description

Atone ulu (Myristica hypargyraea) is a member of the Myristiaceae (Nutmeg) family. It is a medium-sized tree up to 20 m in height, with a clear red sap, red-brown tomentose young stems, and the trunk forming buttress roots when young, prop-roots when older, these sometimes originating up to 70 cm above the ground; gray-brown bark, often with horizontal, closely arranged grooves and shallow vertical grooves, chocolate brown inner bark, and a white wood.
This tree is indigenous to the Samoan Archipelago as well as Tonga, the Horne Islands, and possibly Rotuma, and to Palau and Pohnpei in Micronesia. It is common in foothill to montane forests, especially at higher elevations and on ridges; it has been reported from near sea level to 1000 m elevation. The fruits are probably eaten by pigeons for the edible aril, but are too large for doves.

Reference:Whistler, W. Arthur. 2004. Rainforest Trees of Samoa. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.

Whistler, W. Arthur. 2002. The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Honolulu, HI.