Studies in Fitchia — CARLQUIST and GRANT 
from the smaller mountain (Tahiti-iti) of the 
two which make up the island. 
Hoffmann (1890: 353) reported F. nutans 
from Tabuai ( = Tubuai ) , as well as from 
Tahiti and Elizabeth (now Henderson) I., but 
as Hemsley (1885: 20) had earlier shown, 
this supposed locality is based on the type sheet 
(Cuming 1424) which Hooker had earlier at- 
tributed to Elizabeth Island. 
Erdtman (1952: 124) cites a specimen of 
F. nutans as "Fiji, Moseley, anno 1875.” Carl- 
quist (1957:63) suggested that this is in error, 
287 
because no other collections have been made of 
Fitchia in the Fiji group. Also, Hemsley ( 1885: 
20 ) reports that there is at Kew a specimen 
collected by Moseley in Tahiti at an altitude of 
4,000 ft, and this is probably the specimen 
cited by Erdtman. 
Papy (1955: 325) mentions F. nutans as 
growing on "Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Rapa.” 
The record from Rapa is probably based on the 
report of Riley (1926: 55), which was made 
before F. rapensis had been described as a 
separate species (Brown, 1935: 366) , although 
FIGS. 13-16. Fig. 13: Fitchia cordata. Transection of involucral bract taken about midway along length of 
bract; adaxial face at left. Fig. 14: F. cordata. Transection receptacular bract, adaxial face at left. In Figs. 13, 
14, tracheary elements shown in bold outline, fibers and sclereids stippled. Fig. 15: "Typical” leaf of F. 
cordata, showing main veins. Fig. 16: "Typical” leaf of F. cuneata ssp. tahaaensis. Figs. 13, 14, X 105. Figs. 
15, 16, X 2 / 3 . 
