Images above taken on Nahhap motu in Pohnpei on 31 July 2007 by Dana Lee Ling. Below are images from Metipw, Madolehnihmw, 07 December 2014
Chuuk: amónoset, néét
Kosrae: sruhsruhn. Incorrectly reported in some sources as sruhsruh.
Pohnpei: titin
Kosraen usage: Children use the seeds as projectiles using hollow papaya leaf petioles as the blow tube. [Informant: Shrue Nena Kilafwasru]
PLANTS Profile for Tournefortia argentea (velvetleaf soldierbush) | USDA PLANTS
Kingdom Plantae - Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons Subclass Asteridae - Order Lamiales - Family Boraginaceae - Borage family Genus Tournefortia L. - soldierbush Species Tournefortia argentea L. f. - velvetleaf soldierbush, tree heliotrope
Material added December 2014
Common names
amoloset(Chuuk, Losap, Etal)
chen (Yap)
sesen (Pingelap)
sruhsruh (Kosrae)
titin (Pohnpei)
tree heliotrope, beach heliotrope, velvet leaf soldierbush, octopus bush (English)
yamolehat (Puluwat)
Source: Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry,
Traditional Tree Org
Used on some islands to treat ciguatera fish poisoning. Leaves may contain rosmarinic acid among other compounds which reputed to be antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory propertiesEncyclopedia of Life
Cut and then crushed leaves are tucked in under and around a dead body in a coffin to suppress malodorious smells. Death due to complications of diabetes and the associated immunosuppression leaves the body particularly vulnerable to rapid bacterial decomposition. Leaves are packed around the feet and elsewhere to stop the smell. - SKLL 2014
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Family: Boraginaceae Genus: Heliotropium Species: H. foertherianum Binomial name Heliotropium foertherianum Diane & Hilger Synonyms Tournefortia argentea L.f. Argusia argentea (L.f.) Heine Messerschmidia argentea (L.f.) I.M.Johnst. Tournefortia arborea Blanco
Originally published as Tournefortia argentea, it was transferred to Argusia argentea, and remained under that name until recently. It was subsequently restored to Tournefortia before being transferred into Heliotropium under a new name in 2003.Encyclopedia of Life