Psychotria hombroniana


Psychotria hombroniana is shrub or tree in the family Rubiaceae that is endemic to the Caroline and Mariana Islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

Distribution and habitat

The genus Psychotia is a large group with highly variable traits, and taxonomic classification has been challenging. Eight distinct subspecies of Pychotria hombroniana are now recognized, five in the Caroline Islands and three in the Mariana Islands. Subspecies, their ranges, and their historic synonyms are listed below.

Caroline Islands

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''canfieldiae'' Fosberg - Caroline Islands


''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''carolinensis'' (Valeton) - Caroline Islands

  • Known as kampaniel, kempeniel, or kempenial in Palauan, and chimei in Chuukese)
  • Synonyms:
  • * Amaracarpus carolinensis Valeton
  • * Amaracarpus carolinensis var. squarrosa Valeton
  • * Amaracarpus heteropoides Valeton
  • * Amaracarpus kraemeri Valeton
  • * Psychotria carolinensis Fosberg
  • * Psychotria hombroniana var. squarrosa Fosberg

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''hirtella'' (Valeton) Fosberg - Caroline Islands

  • Synonyms:
  • * Amaracarpus hirtellus Valeton
  • * Amaracarpus macrophyllus Valeton
  • * Psychotria ponapensis Fosberg

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''kusaiensis'' (Kaneh.) Fosberg - [Kosrae]

  • Synonyms:
  • * Amaracarpus kusaiensis Kaneh.
  • * Amaracarpus kanehirae Hosok.

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''peliliuensis'' Fosberg - [Palau]


Mariana Islands

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''hombroniana -'' Mariana Islands

  • Synonym:
  • * Amaracarpus rotensis Hosok.

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''ladronica'' (Hosok.) Fosberg - Rota">Rota (island)">Rota

  • Synonyms:
  • * Amaracarpus ladronicus Hosok.
  • * Psychotria ladronica Hosok.

''Psychotria hombroniana'' var. ''mariannensis'' (Kaneh.) Fosberg - [Alamagan]

  • Synonym:
  • * Amaracarpus mariannensis Kaneh. in Bot. Mag. 48: 926

Common names

The common names for Pyshotria hombroniana vary between the islands:

Chamorro">Chamorro language">Chamorro

  • Aplokating palaon

Chuukese">Chuukese language">Chuukese

  • chimei

Palauan">Palauan language">Palauan

  • Demedemegur
  • Rtertil

Pohnpeian">Pohnpeian language">Pohnpeian

  • Kampaniel, ke mpenial, kempeniel, or kempenial