Listed as indigenous, a taxon that is considered native but not endemic / early Polynesian introduction, introduced prior to European contact (Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.);
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- 12.2. Marine Intertidal – Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, etc.
- 12.7. Marine Intertidal – Mangrove Submerged Roots
- 13.3. Marine Coastal/Supratidal – Coastal Sand Dunes
Used for carving by Pitcairn Islanders, and regularly harvested from the North and North West Beaches. In beach forest communities and other coastal forests behind the North and North West Beaches; absent from similar habitat at the East Beach. Florence, Chepstow-Lusty 6' Waldren 10889. Occurs on the crest above the Radio Station, and around Adamstown; probably a Polynesian introduction. Florence 70737.(Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.); Thespesia had a variety of uses in Polynesian culture. Bark and leaf extracts were used for treating a variety of ailments (Whistler, 1991b). Trees were often planted around marae (temples) and it may have been important as a sacred tree (Wagner et al., 1990). The species was used in Polynesian herbal medicine (Cox, 1991), mainly used topically or taken internally for intestinal disorders (Morrow, 1997). Various preparations of leaves, bark and heartwood have shown antibacterial, antifungal and antispasmodic pharmacological activity (Morrow, 1997). The wood is hard and durable, and was widely used for construction of durable items, such as bowls and canoe paddles (Whistler, 1991a,b). The yellow flowers are attractive and may have been used by Polynesians for decoration, particularly on Henderson where few species have large or showy flowers. The delicately coloured wood is still used for carving curios in Polynesia, including Easter Island (Zizka, 1991) and Pitcairn. Pitcairners regularly visit Henderson to cut both Thespesia and Cordia, the main timbers used on Pitcairn for carvings. The islanders prefer the Thespesia of Henderson to that of Pitcairn because the heartwood is more intensely coloured. At present it is likely that Thespesia and Cordia are harvested non-sustainably from Henderson. (Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1);
The fruit is an indehiscent capsule; the seeds, and presumably the fruits too, are capable of flotation for two months in seawater (Morrow, 1993), and this is likely to be a major means of dispersal. (Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1);
Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.; Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1; UKOTs Team (2024). UKOTs Online Herbarium - Henderson. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet at http://brahmsonline.kew.org/UKOT (July 2024);