This table lists invasive and potentially invasive plant species profiled by the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER) that occur on Pukapuka Atoll. It includes those of environmental concern (including those that are probably of threat only to islands with high elevations) as well as agricultural and ruderal weeds. Each species is linked by its scientific name to an individual write-up containing relevant information.
The information in this table is based on the supporting data and may not represent the current situation. Note also there may be discrepancies among data presented at geographic resolutions (e.g., island vs. island group vs. country-territory-state levels), depending upon the reliability of the data at each level.
Species are listed in alphabetic order. You can browse this list or use the "find" function on your web browser to search by scientific name.
Can't find it here? Check the list of synonyms for other names (the more common synonyms are included below) or search other lists and databases available on the Internet.
Stumped by botanical terms? Here are links to a brief glossary and a search engine for botanical terms.
| Scientific name (+Family) | Often-used other Latin names | Habit |
Primarily a threat
at high elevations? |
| Abutilon indicum (Malvaceae) | Sida indica L. | shrub | No |
| Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) | tree | No | |
| Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) | herb | No | |
| Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) | Casuarina litorea L. var. litorea; Casuarina littorea Rumph. | tree | No |
| Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) | Lochnera rosea (L.) Reichb. ex Steud.; Vinca rosea L. | herb | No |
| Cenchrus echinatus (Poaceae) | grass | No | |
| Citrus aurantiifolia (Rutaceae) | tree | No | |
| Citrus limon (Rutaceae) | Citrus limonum Risso | tree | No |
| Colocasia esculenta (Araceae) | herb | No | |
| Cyanthillium cinereum (Asteraceae) | Blumea chinensis (L.) DC.; Conyza chinensis L.; Conyza cinerea L.; Senecioides cinerea (L.) Kuntze ex Britt. & Wilson; Serratula cinerea (L.) Roxb.; Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.; Vernonia cinerea var. parviflora (Reinw.) DC. | herb | No |
| Cyperus difformis (Cyperaceae) | sedge | No | |
| Digitaria ciliaris (Poaceae) | Digitaria adscendens (Kunth) Henrard | grass | No |
| Echinochloa colona (Poaceae) | grass | No | |
| Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae) | Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.; Verbesina alba L. | herb | No |
| Eleusine indica (Poaceae) | grass | No | |
| Eragrostis amabilis (Poaceae) | Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. | grass | No |
| Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbiaceae) | Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp. | herb | No |
| Euphorbia prostrata (Euphorbiaceae) | Chamaesyce prostrata (Aiton) Small | herb | No |
| Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae) | tree | No | |
| Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae) | vine | No | |
| Ipomoea violacea (Convolvulaceae) | Convolvulus tuba Schlechtend.; Ipomoea macrantha Roem. & Schult.; Ipomoea tuba (Schlechtend.) G. Don | vine | No |
| Kyllinga brevifolia (Cyperaceae) | Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Endl. ex Hassk. | sedge | No |
| Ludwigia octovalvis (Onagraceae) | Jussiaea erecta sensu various authors.; Jussiaea suffruticosa L. | herb | No |
| Malvaviscus arboreus (Malvaceae) | shrub | No | |
| Muntingia calabura (Muntinginaceae) | tree | No | |
| Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae) | Nerium indicum Mill. | shrub | No |
| Nicotiana tabacum (Solanaceae) | herb | No | |
| Ocimum basilicum (Lamiaceae) | herb | No | |
| Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Euphorbiaceae) | Euphorbia tithymaloides L. | herb | No |
| Phyllanthus amarus (Phyllanthaceae) | Phyllanthus niruri sensu various Pacific botanists. | herb | No |
| Plectranthus scutellarioides (Lamiaceae) | Coleus blumei Benth.; Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth.; Ocimum scutellarioides (L.); Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd | herb | No |
| Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) | tree | No | |
| Sansevieria trifasciata (Asparagaceae) | herb | No | |
| Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae) | Sida microphylla Cav. | shrub | No |
| Solanum lycopersicum (Solanaceae) | Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.; Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karst. | herb | No |
| Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Verbenaceae) | Stachytarpheta dichotoma (Ruiz & Pav.) Vahl.; Stachytarpheta urticaefolia (Salisb.) Sims; Stachytarpheta urticifolia (Salisb.) Sims | herb | No |