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Moeroris debilis

(Klein ex Willd.) R.W.Bouman (2022)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Phyllanthaceae Genus: Moeroris

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Monoecious, erect annual herbs 0.1–0.8 m tall.

Stems: Stems often branching with age, branching phyllanthoid, the branches 4–10(–12) cm long with watery sap, usually with 15–35 leaves.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades narrowly elliptic, (6–)8–21 mm long, 2.5–5 mm wide. Margins entire. Petioles 0.3–1 mm long. Stipules lanceolate, 0.9–1.2 mm long.

Flowers: Staminate flowers 3–4 in racemose cymes arising in the first 2–4 nodes of the branches, pedicels less than 0.5 mm long; pistillate flowers solitary in the nodes above staminate flowers, pedicels becoming 1.1– 1.6 mm long. Flowers unisexual. Calyx of staminate flowers 6-lobed, 0.5–0.6 mm long. Calyx of pistillate flower with lobes 6, (1–)1.2–1.5 mm long, margins whitish and scarious. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens in staminate flowers 3; filaments connate. Ovary superior; styles distinct, bifid.

Fruit: Capsules depressed–globose; ca. 2–2.2 mm in diameter; the surface smooth; explosively dehiscent. Seeds pale yellowish brown; angled; ca. 1–1.1 mm long; with 6– 7 longitudinal ribs and fine transverse striations on back.

Ploidy: 2n = 14; 24; 26; 28

Habitat: Low elevation; disturbed areas such as yards and other urban sites; also in open areas such as lava fields.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Phytotaxa 540 (1) p. 26 (2022)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:627 (K, O, M, H [as Phyllanthus debilis]); Oppenheimer 2003:12 (Mo, L); Faccenda 2023a:7 (KEY); Bouman et al. 2022:26 (Syn. P. debilis = M. debilis)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Moeroris debilis Moku Mana (N) One plant on S tip of N islet. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 504065 Maui BISH 2005-04-06
2 Moeroris debilis Waipio Peninsula; Waipio, Pouhala Marsh between Kapakahi & Waikele Streams Occasional herb on dredged ruderal land adjacent to the marsh. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9616 Oahu BISH 1996-12-18
3 Moeroris debilis Along road leading to Kaluanui Valley In old Sugar cane field. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-03-21
4 Moeroris debilis Kalaheo, National Tropical Botanical Garden, McBryde Garden, near fern tunnel Moist, partly shaded garden bed Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 2473 Kauai BISH 2022-06-03
5 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, Tantalus Round Top Dr roadside adjacent to guard rail; with Desmodium, Leucaena leucocephala, Rhynchelytrum Preserved_Specimen Ray, G. 74 Oahu BISH 1998-01-29
6 Moeroris debilis Manele Harbor Growing at edge of lawn. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 40117 Lanai BISH 2001-04-15
7 Moeroris debilis Wailua Game Reserve, above Wailua Kauai Vegetation on plots stripmined for bauxite ore in 1958-60. Base ore, no overburden, no soil treatment. Preserved_Specimen Howard, R.A. 20188 Kauai BISH 1985-10-20
8 Moeroris debilis Kewalo St. and Wilder Ave From crack in sidewalk. Sunny area Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 1673 Oahu BISH 2020-08-22
9 Moeroris debilis East Maui, Kihei, nursery Volunteer in pot on ground. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 405053 Maui BISH 2004-05-05
10 Moeroris debilis Ilima Ave. Roadside, sunny, moist. Around town in gardens. Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 3194 Lanai BISH 2023-06-22
11 Moeroris debilis Hilo, along waterfront; Disturbed roadside. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5151 Hawaii BISH 1975-01-15
12 Moeroris debilis W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokeana In yard; common. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 99802 Maui BISH 1998-09-22
13 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, 1261 Maumai Ave Shady, very moist. Preserved_Specimen Thompson, J.W. Oahu BISH 1920-10-14
14 Moeroris debilis Imiloa Astronomy Center grounds. Growing on edge of a flower bed, with other weedy species. Preserved_Specimen Warneke, C. 318 Hawaii BISH 2019-08-31
15 Moeroris debilis Mokolii A few plants. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5041955 Oahu BISH 2005-04-19
16 Moeroris debilis East Maui, Hana District, Kalahu Point, PTBG Kahanu Garden, Along Honomaele Stream on the Garden's eastern boundary Disturbed area subject to frequent inundation by flood waters. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2448 Maui BISH 1987-10-15
17 Moeroris debilis Hanalei District. Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, East below Crater Hill, along the Nihoku Fenceline, Plot P8 along road. Coastal Dry Shrublands with Pluchea, Lantana, and Non-native grasses. W/ Non-native weedy grasses dominated by Sporobolus and Digitaria insularis, w/ Pluchea carolinensis, Ipomea obscura, Plantago lanceolata, Sphagneticola trilobata, Schinus, Lantana, Syzygium cumini, Cas Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 3417 Kauai BISH 2013-01-21
18 Moeroris debilis Halawa Valley Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 110142 Molokai BISH 2001-11-18
19 Moeroris debilis BYU-HC Farm Slope 4-10 %; Soil Kaolite clay. Preserved_Specimen Betham, R.F. 16 Oahu BISH 1980-10-12
20 Moeroris debilis Hilo. Motel grounds waste area in shallow ditch, w. tree canopy above. Preserved_Specimen Sykes, W.R. 35491 Hawaii BISH 1991-06-03
21 Moeroris debilis Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19286 Oahu BISH 1947-01-06
22 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, Manoa valley, Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Webster, G.L. 13835 Oahu BISH 1968-06-22
23 Moeroris debilis University Ave. Manoa, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 10755 Oahu BISH 1935-01-08
24 Moeroris debilis On slope from parking lot to taro patch. Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.F. 41 Oahu BISH 1975-01-07
25 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, Makiki Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 27075 Oahu BISH 1946-09-22
26 Moeroris debilis Grounds of Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5138 Kauai BISH 1983-12-20
27 Moeroris debilis Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19286 Oahu BISH 1947-01-06
28 Moeroris debilis North Hilo District, Humuula near head of Wailuku River; Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6141 Hawaii BISH 1978-07-10
29 Moeroris debilis Nuuanu Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1428 Oahu BISH 1909-12-20
30 Moeroris debilis Wailupe middle ridge trail. Near trailhead in disturbed lowland area Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 1889 Oahu BISH 2021-05-23
31 Moeroris debilis Lawai Valley (Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden) below administration area Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 53655 Kauai BISH 1971-04-03
32 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, on slope from parking lot to taro patch Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.F. 41 Oahu BISH 1975-01-07
33 Moeroris debilis P.T.B.G., Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2293 Kauai BISH 1972-01-04
34 Moeroris debilis Kalaupapa; airport, oceanview pavilion Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 439 Molokai BISH 2004-11-11
35 Moeroris debilis Manoa Campus, Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Swarbrick, J.T. 10 Oahu BISH 1976-01-03
36 Moeroris debilis Nuuanu Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1428 Oahu BISH 1909-12-20
37 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, Dowsett Highlands Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1950-09-10
38 Moeroris debilis Dr. Hillebrands Garden, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1916-01-01
39 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1948-05-23
40 Moeroris debilis Vineyard St. Nursery, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, A. 16 Oahu BISH 1929-07-31
41 Moeroris debilis University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus. El. 80 ft Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5082 Oahu BISH 1974-10-20
42 Moeroris debilis S coast, 0.7 miles east of Kaimu Bay Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 46024 Hawaii BISH 1965-03-19
43 Moeroris debilis Honolulu, Punahou area, 1940 Manoa Rd Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 1468 Oahu BISH 1985-09-30
44 Moeroris debilis Kilauea Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5243 Kauai BISH 1975-02-27
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