not available
Description: According to Moore and McMakin (1979:60) Glochidion marianum “is a bushy shrub with shiny, light green, alternate leaves on short petioles… [and] male and female flowers occur separately in leaf axils… [with the fruit forming into] globose, flattened capsule containing several orange-brown seeds.”
Distribution. According to Wagner and Lorence (2011), Glochidion marianum should be reclassified as Phyllanthus mariannensis which they describe as: “Endemic to the Mariana Islands (Guam) where it occurs on limestone and basaltic soils in old fields and grasslands and disturbed native and secondary vegetation at ca. 60–150 m elevation.” Moore and McMakin (1979:60) also referred to this species as endemic “on Guam,” but classified it as Glochidion marianum (with local names of Chosgo, Chosgu or Abas Duendes); furthermore, Moore and McMakin described it as a shrub which “seems equally at home on both limestone and volcanic soils,” and indicate that it is “common in the southern half of Guam.”
Uses in Pohnpei: As noted above, according to Wagner and Lorence (2011), the scientific name of this species offered by Balick et al. (2009:461) as Glochidion marianum should be replaced with Phyllanthus ponapense. In any case, Luwekidenloal, The Pohnpeian name of this native woody plant in upper forests implies “return to normal.” It refers to its use as medicine for curing “heartbroken” emotions after break up of a lovers’ relationship. Balick and his colleagues (2009:462) discuss the use of this species to treat a broken heart, relieve depression, bring one’s wife back, decrease anxiety, and to stimulate a baby’s appetite (also see Balick et al. 2009:462 for a description of the closely related Glochidion puberulum Hosok., and its uses in Pohnpei. Interestingly, in Pohnpei, Luwekidenloal plants with red fruit [G. ramiflorum?] are considered to be female; those with whitish fruits are considered to be male [G. marianum?]. A well-known chant regarding Luwekidenloal is sung at gatherings where sakau [kava, Piper methysticum] is consumed:
The “Lovesick Song” involving Luwekidenloal(Glochidion species): “Nahlikendinleng kohdo pangipangin ie i pirida likamw pwoat iapw kielekidi kohdo samwa padikodo wini en kamanok oh iangahki Liwekidenloal oh pwunguredi mesenadipwe i mwasikalahr”
Translation in English: “Shearwater bird come and wake me up. But when I wake up nothing is there. So I am really deeply broken hearted. Please come and squeeze me a medicine to forget Luwekidenloal and calm down my heart because my heart is burning about you.” Note: Nahlikendinleng is a seabird (shearwater) that, it is said, cannot see during daytime; and, thus, during the day, this seabird stays in holes or crevices of large trees of Koatoa (Sonneratia alba), Pwulok (Xylocarpus granatum), or Aiau (Ficus prolixa), or in rocky cliffs on Pohnpei.