Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Report on invasive plant species in American Samoa


Appendix 3

Invasive and potentially invasive species present on Tutuila

Scientific Name Common Names Family Habit
Abelmoschus moschatus English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; French: ambrette, gombo musqué, ketmie musquée, graine de musc; Other:  kamang, ka‘mang (Guam); karereon, karereon nikapwerik nik, kareron, likonokon (Chuuk); gongul (Palau); metei, mety, methey (Pohnpei); hathongethong, kamwayang, nikapwerik, setmwechin, sotumo (Yap);  wakiwaki, wakewake, wakeke, vakeke, aukiki, okeoke, o‘e‘e (Fiji); fou ingo (Niue), fau ingo (Wallis and Futuna); ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa); loa, fau‘ingo (Tonga) Malvaceae herb
Acacia auriculiformis English:  Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle; Other: tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) Fabaceae tree
Acacia mangium English: mangium; Other: tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) Fabaceae tree
Adenanthera pavonina English: Coral bean tree, red sandalwood tree, red bead tree, lopa, bead tree, false wiliwili, peacock flower-fence; French: bois de condori; Other:  kaikes (Pohnpei); mwetkwem (Kosrae); colales, culalis, kolales, kulales, kulalis (Guam, CNMI); metekam, metkam, metkem, (Kosrae); telengtúngd, telentundalel (Palau); pomea (Fiji, Niue), lera, lere ndamu, vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi (Fiji), lopa, la‘au lopa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); paina, pitipitio (French Polynesia) Fabaceae tree
Aleurites moluccana English:  candlenut, Indian walnut; French:  bancoulier, bancoulier, noyer de bancoul, noyer des Moluques; Other:  lumbang (Guam), raguar (Caroline Islands); sakan, shakan (Pohnpei); lama (American Samoa and Samoa); kukui (Hawai’i); tuitui (Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga), 'ama (Marquesas); lauci, lauthe, lauthi, toto, tuitui, tutui, waiwai, sekeci,sikethi, sikeli, nggerenggere (Fiji); tahii tiairi, ti’a’iri, tutui, tahiri (French Polynesia) Euphorbiaceae tree
Allamanda cathartica English:  yellow trumpet vine, golden trumpet, allamanda, brownbud allamanda, golden allamanda, golden cup; French:  monette jaune, li’ane s’aime; Other:  pua taunofo (American Samoa and Samoa), lani-ali‘i (Hawai‘i) Apocynaceae shrub
Anacardium occidentale English:  cashew, cashew nut; French:  anacardier, pomme de cojou, acajou a pommes, pommier d’acajou; Other:  kasoi (Guam), ‘apu ‘initia (Samoa); kesiu (Tonga) Anacardiaceae tree
Antigonon leptopus English:  Mexican creeper, mountain rose, Confederate vine, chain-of-love, hearts on a chain, love-vine, coral bells, coral vine, queen’s jewels, kadena de amor, corallita; Other: dilngau (Palau); rohsapoak (Pohnpei) Polygonaceae vine
Asystasia gangetica English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel Acanthaceae herb
Axonopus fissifolius English: caratao grass,  narrow-leaved carpetgrass Poaceae grass
Azadirachta indica English:  neem, nim, margosa Meliaceae tree
Bambusa spp. English: bamboo; French: bambou; Other: moor (Yap); iich (Chuuk); pehri en sapahn (Pohnpei); bambuu (Palau); bambu (Kosrae); pi‘ao, pi‘ao palaoan (Guam and Northern Marianas-Chamorro); bwai (Guam and Northern Marianas-Carolinian); bae, koba (Marshall Islands); kaho palangi (Niue); ‘ohe (French Polynesia); ofe (French Polynesia, Samoa), ‘ofe fiti, ‘ofe papalagi (Samoa); kofe, pitu (Tonga); koe (Rarotonga, Cook Islands) Poaceae tree
Bauhinia monandra English:  orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon's plume; flamboyant (Pohnpei), flores mariposa (CNMI); mariposa (Guam); pink butterfly tree (Fiji); Other:  pine fua loloa (Niue), vae povi (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Bauhinia purpurea English:  purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree, pink butterfly tree (Fiji); French: fleurs pourpres Fabaceae tree
Blechum pyramidata English: green shrimp plant, blackweed (Samoa), Browne’s blechum; Other:  yerbas babui (Guam), vao uliuli (Samoa) Acanthaceae herb
Bothriochloa bladhii English:  blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem; Other:  desum (Palau); latoka grass, thamboni grass (Fiji) Poaceae grass
Bryophyllum pinnatum English:  life plant, air plant, resurrection plant, Canterbury bells, cathedral bells, Mexican love plant; Spanish: hoja del aire; Other: bulatawamudu (Fiji); ‘oliwa ku kahakai (Hawai'i); teang (Kiribati); kibilia (Marshall Islands); tupu he lau, tupu noa (Niue); pipi vao (Tonga) Crassulaceae herb
Calliandra calothyrsus English: powderpuff red calliandra; Other:  kaliana (Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Calopogonium mucunoides English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) Fabaceae vine
Calotropis gigantea English:  calotrope, crown flower, bowstring hemp, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai'i); tahinu (French Polynesia) Ascelepiadaceae shrub
Cananga odorata English: perfume tree; French: canang odorant; Other: ilang-ilang, alang-ilang (Guam, Philippines); ylang-ylang, lengileng (CNMI); chiráng, irang (Palau); ilanlang, ilahnglahng (Kosrae); pwanang, pwuur, pwalang (Chuuk); pur-n-wai, pwurenwai, sair-n-wai, seirin wai, seir en wai (Pohnpei); ilanilan, ilañlañ (Marshall Islands); motoi (Niue); makasoi, makosoi, makusui, mokohoi, mokosoi (Fiji); moso‘oi (American Samoa and Samoa); mohoki, mohokoi, mohokoi (Tonga); moto‘oi, mata‘oi (Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti); moto‘i (Tahiti); lanalana (Hawai‘i) Annonaceae tree
Castilla elastica English:  Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree; Other:  pulu mamoe (American Samoa) Moraceae tree
Casuarina equisetifolia English:  casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; French:  arbe de fer; Spanish: arbol de hierro; Other: nach (Yap); lach (Ulithi); laash (Woleai); weeku (Chuuk); gagu, gago (Guam, CNMI); weighu (CNMI-Carolinian); pientri (pinetree), nidil, bû ukam (bluegum on some atolls), nidõ (needle" on some atolls) mejinoki (Marshall Islands); toa (American Samoa, French Polynesia, Hawai‘i, Niue, Samoa and Tonga); ‘aito (French Polynesia); nokonoko, nakure, qaro (Fiji); te katurina (from Ecoport, source not given) Casuarinaceae tree
Casuarina glauca English:  swamp oak, saltmarsh ironwood, longleaf ironwood, gray sheoak Casuarinaceae tree
Cedrela odorata English:  cigar box cedar, Mexican cedar, West Indian cedar, Spanish cedar, Barbados cedar; French: cèdre acajou, cèdre des barbares; Spanish: cedro cubano (Galapagos Is.); Other: sita hina (Tonga) Meliaceae tree
Ceiba pentandra English: kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, pacae; French:  kapokier, capoc, bois coton; Spanish: ceibo; Other: koton (Chuuk); algodon de Manila, atgodon di Manila, algidon, atgidon de Manila (Guam); koatoa, atagodon, arughuschel (Saipan), batte ni gan' ken (Yap); bulik, kotin (Marshall Islands); cottin, koatun, koatoa (Pohnpei); kuhtin, cutin (Kosrae); kalngebard, kalngebárd, kerrekar ngebard (Palau); vauvau ni vavalangi, semar (Fiji); vavae (American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Tonga); vavau ni lokoloko (from Ecoport, source not given) Bombacaceae tree
Cenchrus echinatus English:  burgrass, sand-bur, southern sandbur, Mossman River grass (Australia); French:  herbe a cateaux (Mauritius); Other: tuitui, vao tuitui, vao papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa); se mbulabula (Fiji); piri-piri, pipiri (French Polynesia); mau‘u kuku, ‘ume‘alu (Hawai'i); te anti, te kateketeke (Kiribati); cram-cram (New Caledonia); motie vihilago, mosie vihilango (Niue); lõklõk, kãlõklõk, lellik, lekelik, liklik, karmwijmwij, karumwij (Marshall Islands); cauit-cauitan (Philippines); hefa (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Centrosema_pubescens English:  centro, butterfly-pea; French: fleur-languette, pois bâtard; Other:  pi ni ndola (Fiji) Fabaceae herb
Cestrum diurnum English:  inkberry, day jessamine, day cestrum, China berry; Other: thauthau (Fiji); tinta ‘n-China, tentanchinu, tintan China (Guam, CNMI); makahala (Hawai'i); sugi vao, suni vao (Samoa); vaitohi (Tonga) Solanaceae shrub
Cestrum nocturnum English: night-flowering cestrum, night-flowering jasmine, queen (or lady) of the night; Other: teine o le po, ali‘i o le po (American Samoa and Samoa); thauthau, thauthau ni mbongi, kara (Fiji); dama-de-noche (Guam); ‘ala aumoe, kupaoa, onaona Iapana (Hawai‘i); joñoul ru awa (Marshall Islands); iki he po (Niue); lakau po‘uli (Tonga) Solanaceae shrub
Chamaecrista nictitans English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna; Other:  lauki (Hawai‘i); kobo-cha, nemu-cha (Japan) Fabaceae shrub
Chloris barbata English: swollen fingergrass, purpletop chloris (Australia), airport grass (Fiji); Other: mau’u lei (Hawai'i) Poaceae grass
Cinnamomum verum English:  cinnamon tree; French: cannelier de Ceylan; Other:  ochod ra ngebard (Palau). tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) Lauraceae tree
Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax English:  red clerodendrum, pagoda-flower; Other:  talufe (Niue); amo’ula, amo’ule (Tonga), lau'awa (Hawai'i) Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum chinense English:  Honolulu rose, stickbush, glory bower; Other:  losa Honolulu, losa onolulu (American Samoa and Samoa); pikake hohono, pikake wauke (Hawai'i), pitate mama (Cook Islands) Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum japonicum English: glorybower Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum paniculatum English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower; Other: butcherechár, butecherechar (Palau); tukehn sousou (Pohnpei) Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum quadriloculare English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: tirooj in belle (Marshall Islands); kleuang (Palau); tuhkehn palau (Pohnpei), bagauac (Philippines) Verbenaceae shrub
Clidemia hirta English:  Koster’s curse, soap bush; French: canot-macaque; Other:  kui, kúi (Palau); kauresinga, kaurasinga, roinisinga, ndraunisinga, mara na bulumakau, mbona na mbulamakau, vuti (Fiji); kaurasiga (from Ecoport, no source given) Melastomataceae shrub
Commelina diffusa English: commelina, dayflower, wandering Jew, spiderwort; Spanish:  chiriyuyo; Other: semprebiban-damalong (Guam); honohono (Hawai‘i); mau‘utoga, mau‘u Tonga (American Samoa and Samoa); mohuku vai, musie matala pulu (Tonga); ai rorongi, ai rongorongo, airogorogo, cobulabula, rongomatailevu, thombulambula, matembulambula, drano,duludauwere, ndrano, ndulandauwere, luna, tho nggalonggalo (Fiji), ma‘apape (French Polynesia) Commelinaceae herb
Costus speciosus English:  crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed; Other:  isebsab (Palau) Zingiberaceae herb
Crassocephalum crepidoides English:  thickhead, fireweed, redflower ragleaf; Other:  fua lele, pualele (American Samoa and Samoa); maraburubo (Solomon Islands); fisi puna (Tonga); se vuka (Fiji) Asteraceae herb
Cynodon dactylon English: Bermuda grass, giant Bermuda grass, bahama grass, devil's grass, couch grass, Indian doab, grama, devilgrass, couchgrass, balama grass; French: chiendent, petit chiendent, chiendent pied-de-poule; Other: manini, manienie (Hawai'i); motie molulu (Niue); kambuta, kabuta (Fiji); mosie molulu (Niue); herbe de couverture (New Caledonia); pasto bermuda, zacate bermuda, grama dulce, gramón, hierba fina, grama-seda, (from Ecoport, no source given) Poaceae grass
Cyperus involucratus English:  umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass; Other: ‘ahu‘awa haole, pu‘uka‘a haole (Hawai‘i) Cyperaceae sedge
Cyperus rotundus English: nut grass, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, cocograss; French: souchet rond, souchet à tubercules, herbe à oignon; Other: oni ani (Cook Islands); soro na kambani, sora na kambani, soro ni kabani, ivako, malanga, vucesa, motha, vuthesa mot ha (Fiji); chaguan humatag (Guam); kili'o'opu, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); te mumute (Kiribati); tuteoneon (Marshall Islands); mumuta (Samoa, Tokelau); pakopako (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
Delonix regia English: flame tree, flamboyant, poinciana; Spanish: flamboyan; Other: ngatipa, avarua (Rarotonga, Cook Islands); fayarbaw (CNMI–Carolinian); sekoula (Fiji); puke (Tahiti, French Polynesia); arbol del fuego, atbot, atbot det fuegu, atbut (Guam and CNMI–Chamorro); ‘ohai ‘ula (Hawai'i); pine (Niue); nangiosákura, nangyo (Palau); pilampwoia weitahta (Pohnpei); ‘ohai (Tonga); sakuranirow (Yap) Fabaceae tree
Derris malaccensis English: New Guinea creeper; Other:  ‘ava niukini (American Samoa); nduva, tuva, nduva ni niukini (Fiji); akau niukini (Niue); fue fa‘i ‘ava (Samoa); kava fisi (Tonga) Fabaceae vine
Desmanthus virgatus Other: anil, jureminha (Brazil) Fabaceae herb
Desmodium nicaraguense Spanish: engorda-caballo, vara de arco, pie de paloma, vara larga, vara blanca, Juana de Arco, gutao, Juana Larga Fabaceae shrub
Desmodium tortuosum English:  Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil Fabaceae herb
Dieffenbachia seguine English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane; Other: yalu ni vavalagi (Fiji) Araceae herb
Digitaria ciliaris English:  Henry's crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, tropical crab grass, large crab grass, southern crabgrass, fingergrass, summer grass; French: digitaire ciliée; Other:  kukaepua'a (Hawai'i); Saulangi (Niue) Poaceae grass
Digitaria violascens English: smooth crabgrass, violet crabgrass; Other: sau (Palau) Poaceae grass
Dissotis rotundifolia English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady Melastomataceae herb
Duranta erecta English:  duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other:  ‘olive (Tonga) Verbenaceae shrub
Eichhornia crassipes English: water hyacinth; French: jacinthe d'eau; Other: bung el ralm (Palau); mbekambekairanga, ndambendambe ni nga, jal khumbe, bekabekairaga, dabedabe ne ga, jal khumbe (Fiji); riri vai (Cook Islands) Pontederiaceae aquatic herb
Eleusine indica English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow's foot, bullgrass; French: pied de poule; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); kavoronaisivi, vorovoroisivi, ghoraya (Fiji); tamamau (French Polynesia), umog (Guam); manienie ali‘i (Hawai'i); mahkwekwe (Kosrae); katejukjuk (Marshall Islands); mosie fahitalo (Niue); deskim, keteketarmalk (Palau); reh takai (Pohnpei); takataka, takataka ‘a leala, mohuku siamane (Tonga); te uteute (from Ecoport, source not given) Poaceae grass
Eugenia uniflora English: Surinam cherry, red Brazil cherry; French: cerisier carré, cerisier de Cayenne; Other: kafika, kafika palangi (Niue), pitanga (Brazil) Myrtaceae shrub/tree
Falcataria moluccana English:  Molucca albizia; Other:  tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); tuhke kerosene, tuhkehn karisihn (Pohnpei); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); tamaligi uliuli (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Ficus benghalensis English:  banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; French: figuier des pagodes Moraceae tree
Ficus benjamina English: weeping fig, baka, Java fig, weeping fig ; Other: ‘ovava fisi (Tonga) Moraceae tree
Ficus elastica English: India rubber tree, rubber plant; Other: komunoki, komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak'iynigoma (Yap) Moraceae tree
Flemingia macrophylla     Fabaceae tree
Gliricidia sepium English: mother of cacao, quickstick; Spanish: madre de cacao Fabaceae tree
Hedychium coronarium English:  white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower; Other:  tunun, sinser (Chuuk); ndrove, cevuga vula, dalasika (Fiji); thevunga (Fiji, Tonga); ‘awapuhi ke‘oke‘o (Hawai‘i), sinter pwetepwet (Pohnpei); tolon (Puluwat) Zingiberaceae herb
Hedychium flavescens English:  yellow ginger, cream ginger; French: longoze; Other: opuhi rea rea (French Polynesia); ‘awapuhi melemele (Hawai'i), teuila (Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb
Hemigraphis alternata English: metal leaf; red ivy, cemetery plant (Fiji) Acanthaceae herb
Hyptis pectinata English:  comb hyptis, comb bushmint, mint weed, purple top; French:  fausse menthe; Other:  mumutun lahe, mumutun palaoan, mumutan ademelon (Guam); tamole ni veikau, tamoli ni vavalangi, timothi ni vavalangi, wavuwavu, ndamoli, ben tulsia (Fiji) Lamiaceae herb
Imperata cylindrica English: blady grass, cogon grass, satintail; French:  paille de dys, paillotte, impérata cylindrique, impérate; Other:  gi, ngi (Fiji); alang-alang, lalang (Indonesia, Malaysia); kasoring (Palau) Poaceae grass
Indigofera suffruticosa English: indigo; Other:  aniles (Guam); ‘iniko, inikoa, kolu (Hawai'i); la‘au mageso (Samoa); ‘akau veli (Tonga) Fabaceae shrub
Kyllinga brevifolia English: green kyllinga, green water sedge; Other: kili‘o‘opu, kaluha, manunene, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); tuise (Samoa); pakopako (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
Kyllinga nemoralis English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other:  kili‘o‘opu (Hawai‘i), ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a vili taliga, matie upo‘o, matie tahiti, mo‘u upo‘onui, mo‘u upo‘o, tuise (Samoa); pakopako, pakopako ‘ae kuma (Tahiti); tuise (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
Lantana camara English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa); taramoa (Cook Islands); kauboica, kaumboitha, mbonambulumakau, mbona ra mbulumakau, tokalau, waiwai, lanitana (Fiji); taratara hamoa, taratara moa (French Polynesia); latora moa, tatara moa (French Polynesia (Tahiti)); lakana, la‘au kalakala, lanakana (Ni‘ihau), mikinolia hihiu, mikinolia hohono, mikinolia kuku (Hawai'i); ros fonacni (Kosrae); te kaibuaka, te kaibuaja (Kiribati); migiroa (Nauru), landana, rantana, rahndana, tukasuweth (Pohnpei); talatala, talatala talmoa (Tonga) Verbenaceae shrub
Leucaena leucocephala English:  leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree; French: graines de lin, faux-acacia, faux mimosa (New Caledonia); Other:  koa haole, lili-koa, ekoa (Hawai'i); tangantangan, tangan-tangan, talantayan (Guam, CNMI, Marshall Islands); talntangan (CNMI); ganitnityuwan tangantan (Yap); tuhngantuhngan, rohbohtin (Kosrae); telentund (Palau); lopa Samoa (American Samoa and Samoa); fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa); lusina (Samoa); pepe (Niue and Samoa); tavahi kaku (Niue); nito, toromiro (Cook Islands); siale mohemohe (Tonga); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai dina, balori (Fiji); atiku (Marquesas); cassis (Vanuatu); te kaitetua (Kiribati); namas (from Ecoport, source not given) Fabaceae tree
Ligustrum spp. English:  privet Oleaceae shrubs/small trees
Lonicera japonica English:  Japanese honeysuckle, Hall’s honeysuckle; Other:  honekakala (Hawai'i) Caprifoliaceae vine
Merremia peltata English: merremia; Other: wachathal (yap); lohl, iol, yol (Pohnpei); kebeas (Palau); lagon, lagun (Guam); fitau, fitaw (Chuuk); pala, pul, puhlah (Kosrae); fue, fue vao, fue kula (Niue); fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa); fue mea (Tonga); abui, grobihi, arosumou (Solomon Islands); wa mbula, wa bula, wa damu, wa ndamu, viliyawa, wiliviwa, veliyana, wiliao (Fiji); pohue (French Polynesia) Convolvulaceae vine
Mikania micrantha English:  mile-a-minute weed, Chinese creeper, American rope, bittervine; French: liane américaine, liane-serpent; Other: fue saina (American Samoa, Samoa and Niue); fou laina (Niue), teb ‘l yas (Palau); wa mbosuthu, wa mbosuvu, wa mbutako, wa ndamele, ovaova, wa bosucu, usuvanua (Fiji); kwalo koburu, (from Ecoport, no source given) Asteraceae vine
Mimosa diplotricha English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; French: grande sensitive, sensitive gèante; Other: singbiguin sasa (Saipan); mechiuaiuu (Palau); limemeihr laud (Pohnpei); vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa), la'au fefe tele, la'au fefe palagi (Samoa); wa ngandrongandro levu, wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu, co gadrogadro (Fiji) Fabaceae shrub
Mimosa pudica English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; French: sensitive; Other: la‘au fefe, vao fefe, vao tuitui, tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa); ra kau pikikaa, rakau pikika (Cook Islands); tho ngandrongandro, tho kandrodandro, cogadrogadro (Fiji); betguen sosa (Guam); pua hilahila (Hawai‘i); memege (Niue); mechiuaiu (Palau); limemeihr (Pohnpei); pohe ha‘avare, pope ha‘avare (Tahiti); mateloi (Tonga) Fabaceae herb
Momordica charantia English: balsam-apple, bitter-melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, squirting cucumber, cerasee, peria; French: momordique, margose (Réunion, Mauritius Islands), margose amère, momordique amère, concombre amer, concombre africain; Spanish: achoccha silvestre; Other: almagosa, atmagosu (Guam); atmagoso (Guam, CNMI); markoso (Palau); kerala (Fiji); meleni 'ae kuma, vaine 'initia (Tonga) Cucurbitaceae vine
Ocimum gratissimum English:  wild basil, clove basil, tree basil; French:  basilic, menthe gabonaise; Other:  la’au sauga (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Odontonema tubaeforme English: fire spike, cardinal flower Acanthaceae shrub
Operculina ventricosa English: paper rose, St. Thomas lidpod; Other: alalag (Guam); palulu (Samoa); fue hina (Tonga) Convolvulaceae vine
Panicum maximum English: Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss; French: herbe de Guinéa, panic élevé, capime guiné, fataque; Other: saafa (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Paspalum conjugatum English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); French: herbe sure, herbe créole; herbe de tauère (New Caledonia); Other: fetin wumwune (Chuuk); mau‘u Hilo (Hawai‘i), muhsrasre (Kosrae); moise vailima, motie vailima (Niue and Tonga); udel ra ngebei (Palau); rehn wai (Pohnpei); vao lima (American Samoa and Samoa), vailima matafao (Samoa); vailima, (Samoa, Tonga, Niue) Poaceae grass
Paspalum dilatatum English: paspalum, dallis grass, water grass; French:  paspalum dilaté, herbe sirop, herbe de miel, herbe de dallis, millet bâtard; Other: hiku nua (Niue) Poaceae grass
Paspalum scrobiculatum English:  rice grass; ditch millet (Fiji); Other:  co duru levu, tho nduru levu, tho ndina, tho ni ndina (Fiji); karasi (Solomon Islands) Poaceae grass
Paspalum paniculatum English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass Poaceae grass
Paspalum urvillei English: Vasey grass; French: herbe de Vasey, paspalum d'Urville Poaceae grass
Passiflora foetida English:  love-in-a-mist, wild passion fruit, passionflower, stinking passionflower; French:  passiflore; Spanish: bedoca (Galapagos Is.); Other: pasio vao (American Samoa and Samoa); bombom (Chuuk), sou, loliloli ni kalavo, qaranidila (Fiji); pohapoha (Hawai‘i); lani wai (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)); tea biku (Kiribati); vine vao (Niue); kudamono (Palau); pompom, pwomwpwomw (Pohnpei); kinahulo‘ atdao, dulce (Saipan); vaine ‘initia (Tonga); tomates (Yap) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora maliformis English:  hard-shelled passionfruit, sweet calabash, sweet cup; French: pomme calabas; Other:  pasio (Samoa), vaine Tonga, vaine kai (Tonga) Passifloraceae vine
Pennisetum purpureum English: elephant grass, napier grass, merker grass; French: herbe éléphant, fausse canne à sucre; Spanish: pasto elefante; Other: bokso (Palau); puk-soh (Pohnpei); acfucsracsracsr (Kosrae). Poaceae grass
Psidium guajava English: guava; French: goyavier; Spanish:  guayaba, guayabo; Other: ku‘ava, ku‘avu, tu‘avu (American Samoa and Samoa); kuafa (Chuuk); kuava (Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa); quwawa, nguava, ngguava ni India, amrut (Fiji); tuava, tumu tuava, tuvava (French Polynesia); abas guayaba (Galapagos); (Guam, Saipan-Chamorro, Yap); kuawa, kuawa ke‘oke‘o, kuawa lemi, kuawa momona, pauwa (Hawai‘i); kuhfahfah (Kosrae); te kuawa (Kiribati); kuwawa (Nauru); kautoga, kautonga, kautoga tane, kautonga tane (Niue); guabang, kuabang (Palau); guahva, kuahpa (Pohnpei); apas (Saipan); abwas (Saipan-Carolinian); tu‘ava (Samoa) Myrtaceae tree
Pueraria montana var. lobata English:  kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other:  deday (Yap); aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna); a'a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue’aepuaka (Tonga); acha, nepalem Fabaceae vine
Ricinus communis English: castor bean, castor-oil plant; French: ricin; Spanish: higuerilla; Other: lama palagi, lama papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa); mbele ni vavalagi, toto ni vavalagi, utouto (Fiji); agaliya (Guam); koli, pa‘aila, ka‘apeha, kamakou, la‘au, ‘aila (Hawai‘i); tuitui, tuitui fua ikiiki (Niue); gelug, maskerekur, uluchula skoki (Palau); lepo, lepohina (Tonga) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Ruellia prostrata English:  black weed, bell weed; Other:  vao uli, vao uliuli (Samoa) Acanthaceae herb
Samanea saman English: monkeypod, rain tree, saman; French: arbre de pluie; Other: tronkon mames, trongkon-mames (CNMI-Chamorro); filinganga (CNMI-Carolinian); gumor ni spanis (Yap); 'ohai, pu ‘ohai (Hawai'i); vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai ni vavalagi (Fiji), malapa (Samoa); kasia (Tonga) Fabaceae tree
Sambucus mexicana English: elderberry, Mexican elder Caprifoliaceae small tree
Sanchezia parvibracteata English: sanchezia Acanthaceae shrub
Schefflera actinophylla English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm; French: arbre ombelle Araliaceae tree
Senna alata English:  candle bush; candelabra bush, Roman candle tree, emperor's candlesticks, ringworm bush (Australia), alcapulco; French:  epis d’or, bois dartre, dartres; Other: arakak (Chuuk); akapuku, andadose, candalaria, take-biha (Guam); kerula besokel, yult (Palau); rakau honuki, truke-n-kili-n-wai, tuhkehn kilin wai, tirakahonuki (Pohnpei); flay-n-sabouw (Yap); mulamula (Niue); bakau plant (Solomon Islands); mbai ni thangi (Fiji); fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); te‘elango (Tonga) Fabaceae shrub
Senna tora English: foetid cassia, stinking cassia, Java-bean, sickle senna, sicklepod, Chinese senna, peanut weed, sickle senna; French:  cassier sauvage, pois puant, séné; Other: kaumoce, kaumothe, pini, tarota (Fiji); mumutun admelon, mumutun palaoan, amot-tumaga carabao (Guam), vao pinati (Samoa); te’epulu, tengafefeka (Tonga) Fabaceae shrub
Sesbania grandiflora English:  hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree; French:  agati a grandes fleurs; Other:  agati, agathi (Fiji); oufai, ofai, ouai (French Polynesia); katurai (Guam); sepania (Samoa) Fabaceae small tree
Solanum torvum English: prickly solanum, devil's fig, turkeyberry, terongan; French: fausse aubergine, aubergine sauvage épineuse; Other: piko (Vanuatu); tisaipale (Tonga); kausoni, soni, kauvoto-votua, kaisurisuri, katai, bhankatiya, soni ni vavalagi (Fiji) Solanaceae shrub
Sorghum halepense English: Johnson grass, Aleppo grass, Aleppo milletgrass; French: sorgho d' Alep, sorgo de Alepo, herbe de Cuba; Other: kola (Tonga); gumai (Russia); zacate Johnson, grama China, cañuela, Don Carlos Poaceae grass
Spathodea campanulata English: African tulip tree, fireball, fountain tree; French: tulipier du Gabon, pisse-pisse; Spanish: tulipan africano; Other:  apär (CNMI); rarningobchey (Yap); orsachel kui (Palau); tuhke dulip (Pohnpei); tiulipe (Tonga), taga mimi (Fiji) Bignoniaceae tree
Spagneticola trilobata English:  wedelia, trailing daisy, Singapore daisy, creeping ox-eye; Other: ngesil ra ngebard (Palau); dihpw ongohng, tuhke ongohng (Pohnpei); rosrangrang (Kosrae); ut mõkadkad, ut telia (Marshall Islands); atiat (Puluwat); ate (Tonga) Asteraceae herb
Sporobolus indicus English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Stachytarpheta cayennensis English:  blue rat's tail, dark-blue snakeweed, false verbena, nettleleaf velvetberry; French:  herbe bleue; Other: ouchung, sakura (Chuuk), louch beluu (Palau); mautofu tala, mautofu vao, matofu fualanumanoa (American Samoa and Samoa); te uti (Kiribati); mautofu Samoa, motofu Samoa (Niue); hiku ‘i kuma, hiku‘kuma, ‘iku ‘i kuma, iku ‘ikuma (Tonga); turulakaka, tumbutumbu, serakawa, lavenia, se karakarawa (Fiji) Verbenaceae herb
Syngonium angustatum English:  arrowhead plant, goosefoot plant Araceae vine
Syzygium jambos English:  malabar plum, rose apple, Malay apple; French:  jambosier, pommier rose; Spanish: pomarrosa; Other: kavika, kavika ni vavalangi, kavika ni India (Fiji), ahi‘a popa‘a (French Polynesia), ‘ohi‘a loke (Hawai‘i); iouen wai, youenwai, apel en wai (Pohnpei); seasea papalagi (Samoa); fekika papalangi (Tonga) Myrtaceae tree
Tabebuia heterophylla English: pink tecoma, pink trumpet tree, white cedar; Other: calice du pape Bignoniaceae tree
Tecoma stans English:  yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush; Other:  peeal (Puluwat), piti (French Polynesia, Tonga) Bignoniaceae small tree
Tradescantia spathacea English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat; Other: talotalo, laupapaki (Niue) Commelinaceae herb
Triumfetta rhomboidea English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other:  dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam); mo‘osipo (Tonga); mosipo (Niue); manutofu, mautofu, mautofu vao (American Samoa and Samoa); qatima (Fiji), urio (French Polynesia) Tiliaceae shrub
Urena lobata English: hibiscus burr, aramina, caesarweed, pink Chinese burr, urena burr, bur mallow; French: jute africain, cousin urène; Other: dadangsi, dadangsi apaka, dadangsi machingat, dádangse (Guam); chosuched e kui, osuched a rechui (Palau); karap, korop (Pohnpei); nognuk, ocher (Chuuk); motipo, mosipo (Niue); mautofu, manutofu (American Samoa and Samoa); qatima, gataya, nggatima (Fiji); mo'osipo Tonga (Tonga), piripiri (French Polynesia) Malvaceae shrub
Urochloa mutica English:  California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass; French: herbe de Para; Other:  puakatau (Tonga) (Swarbrick, 1997) Poaceae grass
Urochloa subquadripara English:  brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Poaceae grass

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This page updated 12 December 2001.