Herbarium

Discocalyx megacarpa

Herbarium

Menu

Online Exhibit

An exhibit of noteworthy plants from the University of Guam Herbarium

Discocalyx megacarpa Merr. MYRCINACEAE

This plant, called otot in the indigenous language of Chamorro, is endemic to three of the four largest and southernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago: Saipan, Rota and Guam. It occurs in moist, shaded forests on limestone and also along streams on lateritic clays. The shrub is one of 50 species in this genus that occur between eastern Malesia and Polynesia. It can be easily propagated by seeds. The red, attractive, edible fruits are said to have a flavor like that of tamarind, a popular south-east Asian fruit, and are likely wildlife food.

Discocalyx megacarpa is an erect shrub to 2 m with ascending brownish round branches. The lanceolate, medium-to-dark green leaves are alternate and bunched at branch tips. They occur on 1 cm petioles and are 10-22 cm long and 3-6.5 cm wide with 8-12 pairs of lateral veins. flowers occur in many-flowered panicles, usually several together with a few small leaves, on small branches. Flowers are separate sexes, and both males and females are initially white, then salmon-pink, on short (4-5 mm) pedicels. Fruits develop from female flowers and are 1 cm in diameter, thinly fleshy, red and finely ribbed, each containing one seed.

Text modified from Raulerson and Rinehart (1991)

Photo credit: A. Kerr

More information

University of Guam

Unibetsedȧt Guåhan
UOG Station
Mangilao, Guam 96913

Contact Us

The University of Guam is a U.S. Land Grant and Sea Grant Institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. UOG is an equal opportunity provider and employer committed to diversity, equity and inclusion through island wisdom values of inadahi yan inagofli'e: respect, compassion, and community.