Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Report on invasive plant species in the Cook Islands
Appendix 1. Species by category
Table 1.
Species that are invasive elsewhere in similar ecosystems but are not known to
be present in the Cook Islands
Table 2. Introduced species that are
invasive or potentially invasive in the Cook Islands
Table 3. Species that are reported as
invasive or weedy elsewhere and are common, weedy or cultivated in the Cook
Islands
Table 4. Native species (or Polynesian
introductions) that can exhibit aggressive behavior
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Acacia confusa | English: Formosa koa, Formosa acacia; Other: sosigi, shoshigi, sosugi, boiffuring (Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands–Chamorro); serepa, soschghi (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands–Carolinian); pilampwoia (Pohnpei); ianángi, yanangi (Palau) | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia longifolia | English: Sydney golden wattle, golden wattle, long-leaved wattle, long-leaved acacia, sallow wattle, coast wattle, golden rods | Fabaceae | tree |
English: Australian blackwood, blackwood acacia | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: prickly acacia, black thorn, Egyptian thorn, Nile acacia, algaroba, babul, gum arabic tree; French: acacia à gomme; Spanish: algarrobo; Other: tiare (New Caledonia) | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: acacia | Fabaceae | shrubs/trees | |
English: sisal, sisal hemp; Other: ndali, natali (Fiji); Other: ndali, natali (Fiji), malina (Hawai’i) | Agavaceae | herb | |
Ageratina riparia | English: spreading mistflower, creeping croftonweed, river eupatorium; Other: hamakua pamakani (Hawai’i) | Asteraceae | shrub |
English: tree of heaven, varnishtree | Simaroubaceae | tree | |
English: Chinese albizia, silktree; Other: ‘arapitia (Cook Islands); tameligi uliuli, tameligi ena‘ena (Samoa) | Fabaceae | tree | |
Alstonia macrophylla | English: devil-tree | Apocynaceae | tree |
Alternanthera philoxeroides | English: alligator weed | Amaranthaceae | herb |
English: gamba grass, tambuki grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: bush beardgrass, bushy bluestem | Poaceae | grass | |
English: broomsedge, yellow bluestem, whisky grass | Poaceae | grass | |
Araujia sericifera | English: moth plant, moth catcher, white bladder flower | Asclepiadaceae | shrub |
Argyreia nervosa | English: elephant creeper, Hawaiian baby woodrose , silver morning glory, woolly morning glory; French: coup d’air, liane a minguet, liane d’ argent | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Arthrostemma ciliatum | English: arthrostemma, everblooming eavender | Melastomataceae | herb |
English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel | Acanthaceae | herb | |
Asteraceae | herb | ||
English: hophead, Philippine violet | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
English: barleria, porcupine flower | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
Blainvillea gayana | Asteraceae | herb | |
Bocconia frutescens | English: bocconia, plume-poppy, tree poppy, tree celandine, parrotweed | Papaveraceae | shrub |
Boerhavia coccinea | English: boerhavia, hog weed, hog feed, red spiderling, wineflower, tar vine; Other: mata pavo, patagon | Nyctaginaceae | herb |
Brillantaisia lamium | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
English: dog tail; Other: huelo ‘ilio (Hawai’i) | Scrophulariaceae | shrub | |
English: orange eye, butterfly bush, summer lilac | Scrophulariaceae | shrub | |
English: butterfly bush, smoke bush | Scrophulariaceae | shrub | |
English: cat’s claw, Mysore thorn, Mauritius thorn, wait-a-bit; French: bois sappan; Other: puakelekino (Hawai’i) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
English: rattan; Other: rotan, bejuko-n-halumtano, rotan bejuro-n-halumtan (Guam); bangerenguis ra ngebard (Palau) | Arecaceae | shrub (palm) | |
Calliandra calothyrsus | English: powderpuff red calliandra; Other: kaliana (Samoa) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Calotropis procera | English: calotropis, rubber bush, apple of Sodom, mudar, madar, king’s crown, roostertree; French: arbre à soie | Asclepiadaceae | shrub/tree |
Carpobrotus edulis | English: ice plant, pigface, hottentot fig | Aizoaceae | succulent |
Castilla elastica | English: Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree; Other: pulu mamoe (American Samoa) | Moraceae | tree |
Casuarina glauca | English: swamp oak, saltmarsh ironwood, longleaf ironwood, gray sheoak | Casuarinaceae | tree |
Cecropia peltata | English: trumpet tree; French: parasolier, faux-ricin, pisse-roux, bois cannon | Cecropiaceae | tree |
English: burgrass, burr grass, sand-bur, slimbristle sandbur | Poaceae | grass | |
English: buffelgrass, African foxtail grass, anjan grass; French: cenchrus cilié | Poaceae | grass | |
Cestrum parqui | English: green cestrum, willow-leaved jessamine, Chilean cestrum, green poison-berry | Solanaceae | shrub |
Chamaecrista nictitans | English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna; Other: lauki (Hawai’i); kobo-cha, nemu-cha (Japan) | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: plush-grass, radiate fingergrass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: Siam weed, triffid weed, bitter bush, Jack in the bush; French: herbe du Laos; Other: kesengesil, masigsig (Guam); otuot (Chuuk), ngesngesil (Palau); wisolmatenrehwei (Pohnpei); mahsrihsrihk (Kosrae); hagonoy, agonoi, huluhagonoi (Philippines) | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: coco plum, icaco; French: prunier coton, icacier, icaquier, icaque, prune colon; Other: apolo (Fiji) | Chrysobalanaceae | shrub | |
English: satin leaf, wild star-apple, damson plum; Spanish: caimitillo | Sapotaceae | tree | |
English: quinine tree, red cinchona; French: quinquina rouge; Spanish: cascarilla | Rubiaceae | tree | |
English: padang cassia; French: cannelier de Malaisie | Lauraceae | tree | |
Cirsium vulgare | English: spear thistle, Scotch thistle, bull thistle, black thistle, plume thistle; Other: pua kali (Hawai’i) | Asteraceae | herb |
English: grape ivy | Vitaceae | liana | |
English: juniper berry | Verbenaceae | tree | |
English: fiddlewood; Other: masese (Fiji) | Verbenaceae | tree | |
Clausena excavata | English: clausena | Rutaceae | tree |
Clerodendrum japonicum | English: glorybower | Verbenaceae | shrub |
English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower; Other: butcherechár, butecherechar (Palau); tukehn sousou (Pohnpei) | Verbenaceae | shrub | |
English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: tirooj in belle (Marshall Islands); kleuang (Palau); tuhkehn palau (Pohnpei); bagauac (Philippines); losa, losa Fiti (American Samoa and Samoa) | Verbenaceae | shrub | |
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 | |
English: signature tree, autograph tree, copey, Scotch attorney, pitchapple | Guttiferae | tree | |
English: ivy gourd, scarlet-fruited gourd; Other: kundru (Fiji); kiuri awia (Marshall Islands); aipikohr (Pohnpei) | Cucurbitaceae | vine | |
English: sea mulberry, buttonwood, button mangrove | Combretaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: laurel, Ecuador laurel, salmwood, Spanish elm; French: bois de Chypre, pardillo; Other: kotia (Samoa, Tonga) | Boraginaceae | tree | |
English: black sage | Boraginaceae | shrub | |
English: broad-leaved cordia | Boraginaceae | tree | |
Cortaderia jubata | English: jubata grass, Andean pampas grass, purple pampas grass | Poaceae | grass |
Corynocarpus laevigatus | English: New Zealand laurel, karakara nut | Corynocarpaceae | tree |
Cryptostegia grandiflora | English: rubber vine, India rubber vine, Palay rubbervine; Other: liane de gatope (New Caledonia) | Asclepiadaceae | vine |
Cupaniopsis anacardioides | English: carrotwood, tuckeroo | Sapindaceae | tree |
Cyathea cooperi | English: Australian tree fern; French: fougère arborescente d’Australia | Cyatheaceae | fern |
English: Indian dalbergia, Indian rosewood, sissoo, shisham; French: ébénier juane | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: German ivy, Italian ivy, cape ivy | Asteraceae | vine | |
virgatus | Other: anil, jureminha (Brazil) | Fabaceae | herb |
Spanish: engorda-caballo, vara de arco, pie de paloma, vara larga, vara blanca, Juana de Arco, gutao, Juana Larga | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Dichrostachys cinerea | English: aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, sickle bush, marabou-thorn, marabú, Sen Domeng, Saint Domingue, acacia Saint Domingue | Fabaceae | shrub |
Digitaria insularis | English: cottongrass, sourgrass, feather-top grass | Poaceae | grass |
Dillenia suffruticosa | English: shrubby dillenia, shrubby simpoh | Dilleniaceae | shrub/tree |
Echinochloa polystachya | English: aleman grass, carib grass, creeping rivergrass | Poaceae | grass |
Elaeocarpus angustifolius | English: blue fig, blue marble tree, quandong (Australia); Other: sapatua, siapotua, siapatua (American Samoa and Samoa) | Elaeocarpaceae | tree |
English: lofty fig, false banyan, council tree | Moraceae | tree | |
English: banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; French: figuier des pagodes; Other: pulu (Samoa) | Moraceae | tree | |
English: Chinese banyan, Malayan banyan, Indian laurel; Other: lulk (Palau); nunu (Chamorro, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) | Moraceae | tree | |
English: tibig | Moraceae | tree | |
English: rusty-leaved fig, Port Jackson fig, littleleaf fig | Moraceae | tree | |
Flindersia brayleyana | English: Queensland maple, silkwood | Rutaceae | tree |
Funtumia elastica | English: African rubber tree, silkrubber; French: arbre à caoutchouc; Other: pulu vao (Samoa) | Apocynaceae | tree |
Furcraea hexapetala | English: Cuban hemp, hemp; Other: cubuya (Galapagos Islands) | Agavaceae | succulent |
English: phalsa | Tiliaceae | tree | |
English: Senegal tea, temple plant | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: logwood, bloodwood tree, campeachy wood, campeche | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: harungana | Clusiaceae | tree | |
Heliocarpus popayanensis | English: moho, white moho | Tiliaceae | tree |
Heterocentron subtriplinervium | English: pearl flower | Melastomataceae | herb |
Hevea brasiliensis | English: hevea, Brazilian rubber tree, Para rubber tree; French: arbre de Para, hévéa; Spanish: árbol del caucho, cauchotero de Pará, jebe, siringa; Other: rapa (Fiji) | Euphorbiaceae | tree |
English: hiptage; French: liane de cerf | Malpighiaceae | shrub | |
Hydrilla verticillata | English: hydrilla, Florida elodea, water thyme | Hydrocharitaceae | herb |
Hymenachne amplexicaulis | English: hymenachne, trompetilla, West Indian marsh grass | Poaceae | grass |
English: jaragua grass, thatching grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: hairy cat’s ear, gosmore | Asteraceae | herb | |
Hyptis capitata | English: knobweed; Other: botones, batunes (Guam); t’aiegarabao, pathpath (Yap), maa uupo (French Polynesia) | Lamiaceae | herb |
English: wild spikenard, chan; French: gros baume, hyptis à odeur; Other: mumutun (Guam) | Lamiaceae | herb | |
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 | |
English: paddle grass; Other: mah (Kosrae); reh padil (Pohnpei) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: muraina grass, wrinkle duck-beak, saramatta grass; Other: tho muraina, co muraina (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: centipede grass, stalkleaf murainagrass, lucuntu grass; Other: waidoi grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
Jasminum fluminense | English: Brazilian jasmine | Oleaceae | vine |
English: bellyache bush, cotton-leaved physic nut | Euphorbiaceae | shrub | |
Juncus spp. | English: rush | Juncaceae | rush |
Kunzea ericoides | English: tree manuka, tree manuba, kanuka (New Zealand), burgan, white teatree | Myrtaceae | tree |
Kyllinga polyphylla | English: Navua sedge; Other: tuise tele, tuise fiti (Samoa) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
English: duckweed; Other: fala‘o‘oto (Samoa) | Lemnaceae | herb | |
English: lion’s tail, lion’s ear, Christmas candlestick; French: gros bouton, gros tête | Lamiaceae | herb | |
Ligustrum spp. | English: privet | Oleaceae | shrubs/small trees |
English: brush box, Brisbane box, vinegar tree | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: ludwigia, Peruvian primrose, water primrose | Onagraceae | shrub | |
English: umbrella tree, musizi | Rhamnaceae | tree | |
English: chandelier tree, showy melastome, showy medinilla, Malaysian orchid | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
English: holdtight | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
English: melaleuca, cajeput, paper bark tree, punk tree; Other: niaouli (New Caledonia) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: Asian melastome, Indian rhododendron, Malabar melastome | Melastomataceae | tree | |
English: fox-tongued melastoma, red melastome | Melastomataceae | shrub/tree | |
Melinis minutiflora | English: melinis, molasses grass; French: mélinis, herbe molasses, herbe à miel; Other: puakatau (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
English: melochia | Sterculiaceae | tree | |
Melastomataceae | shrub | ||
English: miconia, velvetleaf, purple plague, bush currant | Melastomataceae | tree | |
English: meadow ricegrass, weeping grass | Poaceae | grass | |
Mikania scandens | English: climbing hempweed, climbing hempvine | Asteraceae | vine |
Mimosa pigra | English: catclaw mimosa, thorny sensitiveplant, giant mimosa, giant sensitive plant, black mimosa, zaraz, dormilona, bashful plant, amourette violet; French: amourette riviére | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: montanoa, tree daisy, Anzac flower | Asteraceae | shrub | |
Morella faya | English: fayatree, firetree, firebush | Myricaceae | tree |
English: cow itch, velvet bean, Bengal bean, Mauritius bean; French: pois pouilleux, poil à gratter; Other: akangkang dangkulo (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine | |
English: parrot’s feather, water feather, Brazilian water milfoil | Haloragidaceae | aquatic herb | |
Neonotonia wightii | English: glycine; French: soja pérenne | Fabaceae | vine |
kirkii | English: Micky Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush | Ochnaceae | shrub/tree |
English: ochna, Mickey-Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush | Ochnaceae | shrub | |
English: balsa, corkwood, down tree | Bombacaceae | tree | |
Olea europaea | English: olive; Other: ‘oliwa, ‘oliwa haole (Hawai’i) | Oleaceae | tree |
Melastomataceae | shrub | ||
English: oxyspora, bristletips | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
Paederia foetida | English: stink vine, skunk vine; Other: maile pilau, maile ka kahiki (Hawai’I). | Rubiaceae | vine |
Panicum repens | English: torpedo grass, couch panicum, creeping panic; French: panic rampant, millet rampant; Other: wainaku grass (Hawai’i) | Poaceae | grass |
Parkinsonia aculeata | English: parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, horse-bean, retama; French: arrêtenègre; Spanish: palo verde | Fabaceae | tree |
Paspalum fimbriatum | English: fimbriate paspalum, winged paspalum, Panama paspalum, Panama crowngrass, Columbia grass | Poaceae | grass |
English: wild passion fruit, wingstem passionflower | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
English: blue passion flower | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
English: scarlet passion flower, red passion flower, red granadilla | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
Passiflora pulchella | English: two-lobed passion flower, wingleaf passionfruit | Passifloraceae | shrub |
English: wild passionfruit, devil’s pumpkin, indigo berry, corky passionflower, corkstem passionflower; French: passiflore, grenadille; Spanish: uvilla (Galapagos Is.); Other: huehue haole (Hawai’i) | Passifloraceae | vine | |
English: banana poka, banana passionfruit, bananadilla | Passifloraceae | vine | |
English: paulownia, princess-tree, Chinese empress tree, karri-tree | Scrophulariaceae | tree | |
English: kikuyu grass, kikuyo | Poaceae | grass | |
English: mission grass, feathery pennisetum; French: queue de chat; Other: mechen katu (Chuuk), pwokso, dipw rais (Pohnpei), o tamata (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: philadelphus, evergreen mock orange, syringa | Saxifragaceae | shrub | |
English: New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp, bush flax | Agavaceae | herb | |
Pimenta dioica | English: pimento, allspice; Other: sipaisi (Tonga) | Myrtaceae | tree |
English: spiked pepper; Other: yaqona ni Onolulu, yanggona ni Onolulu (Fiji) | Piperaceae | tree | |
English: eared pepper, anise piper, Veracruz pepper; Spanish: hoja santa, anisillo, hinojo, sabalero, hoja de la estrella; Other: Hawaiian sakau, false sakau, false kava (Pohnpei); ‘ava Tonga (Samoa), kava Hawai’i (Tonga) | Piperaceae | shrub | |
English: Madras thorn, Manila tamarind, sweet inga; French: pois sucré; Other: kamachuri (Chuuk); camachili, kamachile, kamachiles, kamachili (Guam); kamachili, kamatire (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Chamorro), ghamasiligh (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands-Carolinian); kamatsiri, kamatsíri, opiuma (Palau): ‘opiuma (Hawai’i); kataiya (Fiji) | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: pittosporum, Taiwanese cheesewood, mamalis | Pittosporaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: tobira, Japanese pittosporum, Japanese cheesewood, mock orange, Australian laurel | Pittosporaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: Victorian box, Victorian laurel, Australian cheesewood, mock orange, sweet pittosporum, orange pittosporum | Pittosporaceae | tree | |
Pittosporum viridiflorum | English: cape pittosporum | Pittosporaceae | tree |
Plectranthus amboinicus | English: Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, Cuban oregano; French: oreille; Other: rhaivoki, sage (Fiji); pasiole (Niue, Tonga); la‘au tai‘e, lau tai‘e, militini (Samoa); kaloni (Tonga) | Lamiaceae | herb |
English: praxelis | Asteraceae | herb | |
Prosopis spp. |
English: mesquite, algaroba; Spanish: algarrobo | Fabaceae | tree |
Psidium guineense | English: Brazilian guava, Guinea guava; French: goyavier du Brésil | Myrtaceae | shrub/tree |
Pueraria montana var. lobata | English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: deday (Yap); aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna and Futuna and Futuna); a’a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue’aepuaka (Tonga); acha, nepalem | Fabaceae | vine |
English: rose myrtle, downy myrtle, Isenberg bush; French: myrte-groseille, feijoa | Myrtaceae | shrub | |
Rhynchospora caduca | Cyperaceae | herb | |
English: baby pepper, bloodberry, coral berry, rouge plant; Other: polo (Tonga) | Phytolaccaceae | herb | |
English: giant bramble | Rosaceae | shrub | |
Rubus moluccanus | English: Molucca raspberry, broad leafed bramble, Molucca bramble, eelkek; French: piquant lou-lou (Mauritius); Other: kohkihl (Kosrae); soni, wa sori, wa ngandrongandro, wa votovotoa, (Fiji) | Rosaceae | shrub |
Rubus rosifolius | English: roseleaf raspberry, thimbleberry, Mauritius raspberry; French: framboisier; Other: ola’a, ‘akala, akalakala (Hawai’i) | Rosaceae | shrub |
Rubus spp. |
English: raspberries, blackberries, brambles | Rosaceae | shrub |
Ruellia brevifolia | Acanthaceae | herb | |
English: wild cane, false sugarcane; French: canne à sucre fourragère, canne sauvage; Other: banga ruchel (Palau); ac (Kosrae); tebu salah; ahlek, ahlec, (Pohnpei); to aheo (French Polynesia) | Poaceae | grass | |
Sacciolepis indica | English: glenwood grass | Poaceae | grass |
Salvinia molesta | English: salvinia, water fern, kariba weed, African payal | Salviniaceae | fern |
English: dwarf brassia, dwarf schefflera, Hawaiian elf schefflera | Araliaceae | shrub | |
English: pepper tree, California pepper tree, Peruvian peppertree, pepperina; French: faux poivrier, molée des jardins, poivrier d’Amérique | Anacardiaceae | tree | |
English: Christmas-berry, Brazilian pepper, Brazilian holly, Florida holly; French: faux poivrier, poivre du Brésil, poivre rose; Other: warui (Fiji); wilelaiki (Hawai’i), naniohilo (Hawai’i (Moloka‘i)) | Anacardiaceae | tree | |
English: little bluestem, bush beardgrass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: fireweed | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: habucha, coffeeweed, sicklepod | Fabaceae | herb | |
English: buttercup bush, yellow shower, laburnum; Other: mosimosi, naseni karakarawa, winivinikau (Fiji); kolomona, kalamona (Hawai’i) | Fabaceae | shrub/tree | |
Sesbania punicea | English: red sesbania, coffee weed, rattle-pod, sesban, red seine bean, Brazil rattlebox, coffee of the coast, tame acacia, false poinciana, black acacia, purple sesbane | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: potato creeper, Brazilian nightshade | Solanaceae | vine | |
English: wetland nightshade, aquatic soda apple | Solanaceae | aquatic herb | |
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), lapati (Samoa) | Solanaceae | shrub | |
English: tropical soda apple | Solanaceae | herb? | |
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 | |
Sporobolus elongatus | English: wiregrass, rat-tail dropseed | Poaceae | grass |
Syncarpia glomulifera | English: turpentine tree, lustre wood | Myrtaceae | tree |
Terminalia myriocarpa | English: hollock, jhalna | Combretaceae | tree |
English: Florida clover ash | Melastomataceae | shrub/tree | |
Tibouchina herbacea | English: glorybush, cane ti, tibouchina | Melastomataceae | herb |
Timonius timon | English: liberal (Palau); Other: sakosia (from Ecoport, no source given) | Rubiaceae | tree |
Triadica sebifera | English: Chinese tallow tree, popcorn tree, vegetable tallow, white wax berry, chicken tree, Florida aspen; French: arbre à suif, boiré | Euphorbiaceae | tree |
English: puncture vine, goat head; French: tribule terrestre | Zygophyllaceae | herb | |
English: limeberry, lemon China; Other: limon-China, lemon de china, limoncito (Guam) | Rutaceae | shrub | |
English: long john, long jack | Polygonaceae | tree | |
English: wideleaf gamagrass | Poaceae | grass | |
Turbina corymbosa | English: turbina, Christmas vine, ololiuqui | Convolvulaceae | vine |
English: yellow alder, sage rose, West Indian holly, ramgoat dashalong; Other: nõr in jiboñ (Marshall Islands) | Turneraceae | herb | |
Ulex europaeus | English: gorse, furze, whin; French: ajonc, bois jonc, jonc marin, vigneau | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: small-leaved vitex, smallflower chastetree; Other: lagundi (Guam); molauin, molave (Philippines); molave (Hawai’i) | Verbenaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: weeping lilly pilly, weeping myrtle | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: calla lily, arum lily | Araceae | herb | |
English: Indian jujube, Chinese date, Chinee apple; Other: manzanas, manzanita, jujube (Guam); baer, bahir, baher (Fiji) | Rhamnaceae | tree |
NOTE: The common names in this and the following tables are from the PIER data base and web site and include names in use at various locations throughout the Pacific. Additional information can be found in the individual species summaries at the PIER web site or on the PIER CD.
Table 2. Introduced species that are invasive or potentially invasive in the Cook Islands
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Acacia aulacocarpa | English: brown salwood, brush ironbark wattle, hickory wattle | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia crassicarpa | English: northern wattle, Papua New Guinea red wattle | Fabaceae | tree |
English: Ellington curse, klu, sweet acacia; French: acacia jaune, cassie; Other: titima (Cook Islands); vaivai vaka-vatona, vaivai vakavotona, ban baburi, oki (Fiji); aroma, popinac, kandaroma (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); kolu (Hawai’i); te kaibakoa (Kiribati); debena (Nauru) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Acacia glauca | redwood | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia mangium | English: mangium, brown salwood, black wattle, hickory wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands); 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, Polynesian peanut; French: bois de condori; Other: lopa (American Samoa, Fench Polynesia, Samoa and Tonga); mata kōviriviri (Cook Islands); kōviriviri, tavara (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); pitipiti‘ō (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); lera, lere ndamu, vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi (Fiji), pomea (Fiji, Niue), la‘au paina, pitipitio (French Polynesia); colales, culalis, kolales, kulales, kulalis (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); hua‘ula‘ula (Hawai’i); (metekam, metkam, metkem, mwetkwem (Kosrae); telengtúngd, telentundalel (Palau); kaikes (Pohnpei) | Fabaceae | tree |
*Ardisia crenata | English: hen’s eyes, Hilo holly, coral berry, Australian holly, scratchthroat; French: arbre à noël | Myrsinaceae | shrub |
Ardisia elliptica | English: shoebutton ardisia; Other: venevene tinitō (Cook Islands); ati popa‘a, atiu (French Polynesia); togo vao (Samoa) | Myrsinaceae | shrub |
*Asparagus densiflorus | English: asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern | Liliaceae | herb |
Asparagus setaceus | English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa; French: asperge plumeuse; Other: remu (Cook Islands); taupo ‘ou (Tonga) | Liliaceae | vine |
Azolla filiculoides | English: mosquito fern | Azollaceae | fern |
Bryophyllum pinnatum | English: life plant, air plant, resurrection plant, Canterbury bells, cathedral bells, Mexican love plant; Spanish: hoja del aire; Other: ngāngā‘ere toka (Cook Islands); bulatawamudu (Fiji); ‘oliwa ku kahakai (Hawai’I); teang (Kiribati); kibilia (Marshall Islands); tupu he lau, tupu noa (Niue); pagi (Samoa); pipi vao (Tonga) | Crassulaceae | herb |
Cardiospermum grandiflorum | English: balloon vine; heart seed; Other: kopūpū takaviri? (Cook Islands) | Sapindaceae | vine |
Cecropia obtusifolia | English: trumpet tree, guarumo; Other: rau-māniota (Cook Islands) | Cecropiaceae | tree |
English: inkberry, day jessamine, day cestrum, China berry; Other: ariki-va‘ine (Cook Islands); thauthau (Fiji); tinta ‘n-China, tentanchinu, tintan China (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); makahala (Hawai’i); sugi vao, suni vao (Samoa); vaitohi (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub | |
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); tiare ariki-va‘ine, ariki-va‘ine (Cook Islands); 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 | |
Cinnamomum verum | English: cinnamon tree; French: cannelier de Ceylan; Other: ochod ra ngebard (Palau). tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) | Lauraceae | tree |
Clerodendrum chinense | English: Honolulu rose, stickbush, glory bower; Other: losa Honolulu, losa Onolulu (American Samoa and Samoa); pītate māma‘o, tiare tupapaku? (Cook Islands); pikake hohono, pikake wauke (Hawai’i) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
*Cortaderia selloana | English: pampas grass, silver pampas grass, Uruguayan pampas grass | Poaceae | grass |
*Cryptostegia madagascariensis | English: Madagascar rubber vine | Asclepiadaceae | vine |
Cyperus involucratus | English: umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass; Other: ‘ahu‘awa haole, pu‘uka‘a haole (Hawai’i) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
*Dieffenbachia seguine | English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane; Other: yalu ni vavalagi (Fiji) | Araceae | herb |
Dissotis rotundifolia | English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady | Melastomataceae | herb |
English: egeria, leafy elodea, dense waterweed | Hydrocharitaceae | aquatic herb | |
English: water hyacinth; French: jacinthe d’eau; Other: riri vai (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); mbekambekairanga, ndambendambe ni nga, jal khumbe, bekabekairaga, dabedabe ne ga, jal khumbe (Fiji); bung el ralm (Palau) | Pontederiaceae | aquatic herb | |
Epipremnum pinnatum cv. 'Aureum | English: pothos, money plant; Other: ‘ara (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); yalu, wa yalu, wa lu, halu, waloa, matha, nanggalanggala, nanggalinggali, tonga, tanga (Fiji); alu (Fiji, Tonga) | Araceae | vine |
*Erigeron karvinskianus | English: Mexican daisy, seaside daisy, daisy fleabane | Asteraceae | herb |
English: Surinam cherry, red Brazil cherry; French: cerisier carré, cerisier de Cayenne; Other: venevene (Cook Islands); menemene (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); kafika, kafika palangi (Niue), pitanga (Brazil) | Myrtaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: Molucca albizia; Other: tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); ‘ārapitia (Cook Islands); tuhke kerosene, tuhkehn karisihn (Pohnpei); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); tamaligi paepae (Samoa) | Fabaceae | tree | |
Fabaceae | tree | ||
English: luck plant, wild hops; French: sainfoin du bengale; Other: besungelaiei (Palau) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Gmelina arborea | English: gmelina, white teak, white beech; Spanish: melina; Other: yemane (Fiji, Philippines) | Verbenaceae | tree |
Hedychium coronarium | English: white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower; Other: teuila paepae (American Samoa and Samoa); tunun, sinser (Chuuk); kōpī teatea, re‘a teatea (Cook Islands); 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: teuila (American Samoa and Samoa); kōpī rengarenga, re‘a rengarenga (Cook Islands); opuhi rea rea (French Polynesia); ‘awapuhi melemele (Hawai’i) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
*Hedychium gardnerianum | English: kahili ginger; Other: kōpī (Cook Islands); cevuga dromodromo (Fiji); kahili, ‘awapuhi kahili (Hawai’i); sinter weitahta (Pohnpei) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Lantana camara | English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa); tātarāmoa papa‘ā (Cook Islands); tātarāmoa (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); kauboica, kaumboitha, mbonambulumakau, mbona ra mbulumakau, tokalau, waiwai, lanitana (Fiji); tarataramoa, taratara hamoa (French Polynesia); latora 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 |
*Lonicera japonica | English: Japanese honeysuckle, Hall’s honeysuckle; Other: pitate papa‘ā (Cook Islands); mangamangā rima (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); honekakala (Hawai‘i) | Caprifoliaceae | vine |
*Macfadyena unguis-cati | English: cat’s-claw climber | Bignoniaceae | vine |
Melia azedarach | English: Chinaberry, pride-of-India, indian lilac, Persian lilac, white cedar, margosa tree, tira; French: lilas des Indes, arbre à chapelets; Spanish: jazmin (Galapagos Is.); Other: tīra (Cook Islands); dake, bakain (Fiji), paraiso, para’isu (Guam); ‘inia, ‘ilinia (Hawai‘i); sili, tili (Niue); lelah (Pohnpei); sita (Tonga); prais (Yap) | Meliaceae | tree |
Merremia peltata | English: merremia; Other: fue vae (American Samoa), fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa); fidau, fitau, fitaw, fitay (Chuuk); kūrima (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); wa mbula, wa bula, wa damu, wa ndamu, viliyawa, wiliviwa, veliyana, wiliao (Fiji); pohue (French Polynesia); lagon, lagoun, lagun (Guam); pala, pul, para, puhlah (Kosrae); fue, fue vao, fue kula (Niue); kebeas (Palau); ceul, lohl, iol, yol, yool (Pohnpei); abui, grobihi, arosumou (Solomon Islands); fue mea (Tonga); wachathal (Yap) | 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); pōkutekute (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); wa mbosuthu, wa mbosuvu, wa mbutako, wa ndamele, ovaova, wa bosucu, usuvanua (Fiji); fou laina (Niue), teb ‘l yas (Palau); kwalo koburu, (from Ecoport, no source given) | Asteraceae | vine |
Mimosa diplotricha | English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; French: grande sensitive, sensitive gèante; Other: pikika‘a papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa), wa ngandrongandro levu, wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu, co gadrogadro (Fiji); mechiuaiuu (Palau); limemeihr laud (Pohnpei); singbiguin sasa (Saipan); la’au fefe tele, la’au fefe palagi (Samoa); | Fabaceae | shrub |
Odontonema tubaeforme | English: fire spike, cardinal flower; Other: totoē (American Samoa and Samoa) | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Odontonema tubaeforme | English: Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss; French: herbe de Guinéa, panic élevé, capime guiné, fataque; Other: vao kini (American Samoa and Samoa); tinikarāti (Cook Islands); talapi? (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke); saafa (Tonga) | 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 |
Pennisetum purpureum | English: elephant grass, napier grass, merker grass; French: herbe éléphant, fausse canne à sucre; Spanish: pasto elefante; Other: ‘erepani (Cook Islands (Atiu)); acfucsracsracsr (Kosrae); bokso (Palau); puk-soh (Pohnpei); vao bovi (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass |
*Pennisetum setaceum | English: fountain grass | Poaceae | grass |
Phyllostachys bissetii | English: running bamboo | Poaceae | shrub |
*Phyllostachys nigra | English: black bamboo; French: bambou noir | Poaceae | shrub |
Pimenta racemosa | English: bay tree, bay rum tree, bay oil tree, malagueta; Other: sinamoni (Tonga) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Pistia stratiotes | English: water lettuce, tropical duckweed; French: laitue d’eau, pistie; Other: lechuguita de agua, repollo de agua , apon-apon, apoe-apoe, beo-cai, chawk | Araceae | aquatic herb |
Pluchea carolinensis | English: sour bush | Asteraceae | shrub |
English: strawberry guava, cherry guava, Cattley guava, Chinese guava; French: goyavier de Chine; Other: tūava papa‘ā (Cook Islands); ngguava (Fiji), tuava tinito, tuvava tinito (French Polynesia); waiawi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai’i); kuahpa (Pohnpei); ku‘ava (Samoa) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: guava; French: goyavier; Spanish: guayaba, guayabo; Other: ku‘ava (American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa); kuafa (Chuuk); tūava, tūvava (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); quwawa, nguava, ngguava ni India, amrut (Fiji); tumu tuava (French Polynesia); abas guayaba (Galapagos); abas (Guam, Saipan-Chamorro, Yap); kuawa, kuawa ke‘oke‘o, kuawa lemi, kuawa momona, pauwa (Hawai‘i); kuhfahfah (Kosrae); te kuava, te kuawa (Kiribati); kuwawa (Nauru); kautoga, kautonga, kautoga tane, kautonga tane (Niue); guabang, kuabang (Palau); guahva, kuahpa (Pohnpei); apas (Saipan); abwas (Saipan-Carolinian) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
*Schefflera actinophylla | English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm; French: arbre-pieuvre, arbre ombelle | Araliaceae | tree |
Setaria palmifolia | English: palmgrass, short pitpit, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass; Other: vao ‘ofe‘ofe (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass |
Solanum capsicoides | English: cockroach berry, devil’s apple, soda apple; Other: poro‘iti taratara (Cook Islands); kikania kei, akaaka, akaka (Hawai’i) | Solanaceae | herb |
Spathodea campanulata | English: African tulip tree, fireball, fountain tree; French: tulipier du Gabon, pisse-pisse; Spanish: tulipan africano; Other: kō‘ī‘ī, mimi, pātītī vaipatiti vai, pititi vai (Cook Islands); mata kō‘ī‘ī ko‘i‘i (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); apär (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); taga mimi (Fiji); orsachel kui (Palau); tuhke dulip (Pohnpei); fa‘apasi (Samoa); tiulipe (Tonga); rarningobchey (Yap) | Bignoniaceae | tree |
Sphagneticola 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 |
Stachytarpheta cayennensis | English: blue rat’s tail, dark-blue snakeweed, false verbena, nettleleaf velvetberry; French: herbe bleue; Other: ouchung, sakura (Chuuk), tiāki (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); louch beluu (Palau); mautofu tai, mautofu vao, matofu fualanumoana (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 cumini | English: Java plum; jambolan plum; French: faux-pistachier, jamelonguier, jamélongue, jambolanier; Other: pistati, ka‘ika (Cook Islands); paramu (Cook Islands (Aitutaki); duhat (Guam); mesegerak, mesekerrak, mesekerrák, mesigerak (Palau); jamelonguier (New Caledonia); kavika ni India, jammun (Fiji) | Myrtaceae | tree |
English: yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush; Other: tekoma (Cook Islands); piti (French Polynesia, Tonga); peeal (Puluwat) | Bignoniaceae | small tree | |
Tephrosia candida | English: white tephrosia, white hoary-pea; French indigo sauvage, indigo blanc | Fabaceae | shrub |
Tibouchina urvilleana | English: glorybush, lasiandra, princess flower | Melastomataceae | herb |
Tribulus cistoides | English: puncture vine, caltrop, burrnut, Jamaican feverplant, goat’s head; Spanish: cacho de chivo; Other: nohu, nohunohu (Hawai‘i); te maukinikini (Kiribati) | Zygophyllaceae | herb |
*Only seen or reported to be in cultivation
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Abelmoschus moschatus | English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; French: ambrette, gombo musqué, ketmie musquée, graine de musc; Other: ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa); karereon, karereon nikapwerik nik, kareron, likonokon (Chuuk); vavai tara (Cook Islands); ta‘uri‘au (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); wakiwaki, wakewake, wakeke, vakeke, aukiki, okeoke, o‘e‘e (Fiji);kamang, ka‘mang (Guam); fou ingo (Niue), gongul (Palau); metei, mety, methey (Pohnpei); loa, fau‘ingo (Tonga); fau ingo (Wallis and Futuna and Futuna and Futuna); hathongethong, kamwayang, nikapwerik, setmwechin, sotumo (Yap) | Malvaceae | herb |
Acacia auriculiformis | English: Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands); tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) | Fabaceae | tree |
*Acacia mearnsii | English: black wattle; French: acacia noir; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands) | Fabaceae | tree |
English: siris-tree, rain tree, East Indian walnut, kokko, woman’s-tongue tree, soros-tree, raom tree ; French: bois noir; Other: ‘arapitia (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); trongkon-mames, tronkon mames, mamis (Guam); kalaskas, trongkon-kalaskas (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands–Chamorro); schepil kalaskas (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands–Carolinian); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); gumorningabchey; ngumorrningobchey (Yap); ‘ohai (Hawai‘i); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai ni vavalagi (Fiji); tamaligi pa’epa’e (Samoa); kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | tree | |
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), tiare rengarenga, pua (Cook Islands); lani-ali‘i (Hawai‘i) | Apocynaceae | shrub |
*Alpinia purpurata | English: red ginger; Other: kōpī muramura (Cook Islands); thevunga (Fiji); ‘awapuhi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i); teuila (Samoa); tevunga (Tonga) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Anacardium occidentale | English: cashew, cashew nut; French: anacardier, pomme de cojou, acajou a pommes, pommier d’acajou; Other: kātū (Cook Islands); kasoi (Guam); ‘apu ‘initia (Samoa); ‘apu, kesiu (Tonga) | Anacardiaceae | tree |
*Annona glabra | English: pond apple, alligator apple, bullock’s heart, cherimoyer; French: annone des marais, corossolier des marais; Other: uto ni mbulumakau, uto ni bulumakau, kaitambo, kaitambu (Fiji) | Annonaceae | tree |
*Annona muricata | English: soursop, prickly custard apple; French: corossolier, cacheimantier épineux, cachiman épineux, corossol épineux; Other: kātara‘apa (Cook Islands); kātara‘apa papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); naponapo taratara (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); saasaf, sasaf (Chuuk); tapotapo papaa (French Polynesia); laguana, laguaná, laguanaha, laguanaba, labuanaha (Guam); sosap (Kosrae); jojaab (Marshall Islands); syasyap (Northern Mariana Islands), talapo fotofoto (Niue), sausab (Palau); sei, sae, truka shai (Pohnpei); sasalapa (Samoa); ‘apele ‘initia (Tonga); sausau (Yap) | Annonaceae | tree |
*Annona squamosa | English: sugar apple, sweetsop, custard apple, sugar apple; French: annone écailleuse, pomme-canelle; Other: tapotapo (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); tapotapo Māori (Cook Islands); kātara‘apa Māori (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); naponapo Māori (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); atis, ates (Guam); ngel ra ngebard (Palau), ‘apele papalangi, ‘apele Tonga (Tonga), nameana (Tuvalu) | Annonaceae | tree |
Anredera cordifolia | English: Madeira vine, mignonette vine, lamb’s tails; Other: tāpau (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); ‘uala hupe (Hawai‘i); filikafa (Niue) | Basellaceae | vine |
*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 |
Aristolochia littoralis | English: Dutchman’s pipe, calico flower; Other: mokorā (Cook Islands); fue paipa holani (Tonga) | Aristolochiaceae | vine |
Arundo donax | English: giant reed, Spanish reed, wild cane; French: canne de Provence, grand roseau; Other: ngasau ni vavalangi (Fiji); fiso palagi, fiso papalagi (Samoa); kaho folalahi (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass | Poaceae | grass | |
*Azadirachta indica | English: neem, nim, margosa | Meliaceae | tree |
Bambusa vulgaris | English: bamboo; French: bambou; Other: iich (Chuuk); ko‘e papa‘ā (Cook Islands); bitu (Fiji); ‘ohe (French Polynesia, Hawai‘i); ‘ofe (French Polynesia, Samoa), pi‘ao, pi‘ao palaoan (Guam and Northern Marianas-Chamorro); bwai (Guam and Northern Marianas-Carolinian); bambu (Kosrae); te kaibaba (Kiribati); bae, koba (Marshall Islands); kaho palangi (Niue); pehri en sapahn (Pohnpei); bambuu (Palau); ‘ofe Fiti, ‘ofe papalagi (Samoa); kofe (Tonga, Tuvalu); pitu (Tonga); pampu (Tuvalu); moor (Yap) | Poaceae | tree |
Bauhinia monandra | English: orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon’s plume; flamboyant (Pohnpei), flores mariposa (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); mariposa (Guam); pink butterfly tree (Fiji); Other: vae povi (American Samoa and Samoa); pine (Cook Islands (Rarotonga), French Polynesia); pīpī (Cook Islands (Aitu)); pī (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke and Miti‘aro)); pine fua loloa (Niue) | Fabaceae | tree |
*Bauhinia purpurea | English: purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree, pink butterfly tree (Fiji); French: fleurs pourpres | Fabaceae | tree |
*Bauhinia variegata | English: orchid tree; mountain ebony, butterfly tree (Fiji); French: bois de boeuf, sabot boeuf, arbre de Saint-Thomas | Fabaceae | tree |
Bothriochloa bladhii | English: blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem; Other: desum (Palau); latoka grass, thamboni grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
*Bryophyllum delagoense | English: chandelier plant | Crassulaceae | herb |
*Calliandra haematocephala | English: red powder puff; French: pompon | Fabaceae | shrub |
*Calliandra surinamensis | English: Surinamese stickpea | Fabaceae | tree |
*Callisia fragrans | English: fragrant inch plant, basketplant, spironema | Commelinaceae | herb |
Calopogonium mucunoides | English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine |
*Calotropis gigantea | English: calotrope, crown flower, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai’i); tahinu (French Polynesia) | Ascelepiadaceae | shrub |
Cananga odorata | English: perfume tree; French: canang odorant; Other: moso‘oi (American Samoa and Samoa); pwanang, pwuur, pwalang (Chuuk); ylang-ylang, lengileng; (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); mata‘oi, mato‘oi, moto‘oi, (Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti); makasoi, makosoi, makusui, mokohoi, mokosoi (Fiji); moto‘i (French Polynesia); ilang-ilang, alang-ilang (Guam, Philippines); lanalana (Hawai‘i); ilanlang, ilahnglahng (Kosrae); ilanilan, ilañlañ (Marshall Islands); motoi (Niue); chiráng, irang (Palau); pur-n-wai, pwurenwai, sair-n-wai, seirin wai, seir en wai (Pohnpei); mohoki, mohokoi (Tonga) | Annonaceae | tree |
Cardiospermum halicacabum | English: balloon vine, heart pea, love-in-a-puff; Other: wa niu, vo niu (Fiji); vinivinio (French Polynesia), poniu, haleakai‘a, ‘inalua, pohuehue uka (Hawai’i) | Sapindaceae | vine |
*Carludovica palmata | English: Panama hat plant; French: carludovique palmée; Spanish: chidra, palma de sombrero, palma jipijapa, toquilla; Other: Panamā (Cook Islands) | Cyclanthaceae | shrub |
*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: vavae (American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Tonga); koton (Chuuk); vavai (Cook Islands and French Polynesia); vavai mama‘u, vavai maori (Cook Islands); mama‘u (Cook Islands (Mangaia, Aitutaki?)); vauvau ni vavalangi, semar (Fiji); algodon de Manila, atgodon di Manila, algidon, atgidon de Manila (Guam); kuhtin, cutin (Kosrae); koatoa, atagodon, bulik, kotin (Marshall Islands); kalngebard, kalngebárd, kerrekar ngebard (Palau); cottin, koatun, koatoa (Pohnpei); arughuschel (Saipan), batte ni gan’ ken (Yap); 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 (American Samoa and Samoa); piripiri (Cook Islands); pārango (Cook Islands (Ngaputoru)); 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: piriarero (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); pi ni ndola (Fiji) | Fabaceae | herb |
Chloris barbata | English: swollen fingergrass, purpletop chloris (Australia), airport grass (Fiji); Other: mau’u lei (Hawai’i) | Poaceae | grass |
*Cinnamomum camphora | English: camphor tree, camphor laurel; French: camphre, camphrier | Lauraceae | tree |
Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax | English: red clerodendrum, pagoda-flower; Other: rākau tupopoku (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); talufe (Niue); lau‘awa (Hawai‘i); amo’ula, amo’ule (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Clitoria ternatea | English: butterfly pea, Asian pigeonwings; French: honte; Other: buikike, bukike, paokeke, bukike paokeke, capa de la reina, kapa de la raina (Guam); putitainubia (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); pepe (Niue); latoela, nawa (Fiji), paipa (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
Coffea arabica | English: coffee; French: café, caféier d’ Arabie; Spanish: café, cafeto; Other: kaope, kaope Maori (Cook Islands); kove (Fiji); kofe (Fiji, Niue, Samoa), kofi (Tonga); kafe (Marquesas); taofe (Tahiti) | Rubiaceae | tree |
Commelina diffusa | English: commelina, dayflower, wandering Jew, spiderwort; Spanish: chiriyuyo; Other: mauku-vai, mauku ‘oro‘enua, mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands); 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 |
Crotalaria micans | English: crotalaria; Other: pine kotalelia, pile (Niue) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Cuscuta campestris | English: golden dodder, field dodder, five-angled dodder; Other: tiaea (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); navereverelangi, wa vereverelangi, wa lawala, wa mbosuthu, wa ndanga, wa tikaivu, ndithangi (Fiji) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
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: matie (Cook Islands); 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 rotundus | English: nut grass, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, cocograss; French: souchet rond, souchet à tubercules, herbe à oignon; Other: mauku ‘ōniāni, ‘ōniāni (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 |
English: derris; Other: tuba, bagin (Guam); oop, op (Kosrae); dub (Palau); up (Chuuk, Pohnpei); peinuhp, uhp, upanai, upanyap, upkesetik (Pohnpei); yuub (Yap); nduva, duva ni vavalagi, nduva ni vavalangi (Fiji) | Fabaceae | vine | |
English: New Guinea creeper; Other: ‘ava niukini (American Samoa); ‘ora pāpua, rakau papua (Cook Islands); nduva, tuva, nduva ni niukini (Fiji); hora papua (French Polynesia); akau niukini (Niue); fue fa‘i ‘ava (Samoa); kava fisi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine | |
Desmodium tortuosum | English: Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil | Fabaceae | 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 |
*Duranta erecta | English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other: ‘olive (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
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); mauku mārōki‘aki‘a (Cook Islands); 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 |
*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: rapa (Cook Islands); komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak‘iynigoma (Yap) | Moraceae | tree |
*Ficus macrophylla | English: Moreton Bay fig | Moraceae | tree |
Flacourtia jangomas | English: Indian-plum, runeala-plum; French: prunier d'Inde; Spanish: ciruela forastera | Flacourtiaceae | tree |
*Flacourtia rukam | English: Indian plum, Indian prune, governor’s plum; French: prunier café, prunier de Chine, prunier malgache; Other: filimoto (Fiji, Futuna, Samoa and American Samoa, Tonga) | Flacourtiaceae | tree |
Furcraea foetida | English: Mauritius hemp, sisal, maguey, giant cabuya; French: aloès vert, chanvre de Maurice; Other: piāni, rōpiāni (Cook Islands); malina (Hawai’i (Ni‘ihau)); toua (Niue); faumalila, fau malila (Tonga) | Agavaceae | succulent |
*Gliricidia sepium | English: mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac; Spanish: madre de cacao | Fabaceae | tree |
Gomphocarpus physocarpus | English: balloon plant, bladderbush | Asclepiadaceae | shrub |
*Grevillea banksii | English: kahili flower, Banks grevillea; Other: ha‘iku, kahili (Hawai’i); ‘oka pua ‘ula‘ula (Hawai’i (Ni‘ihau)) | Proteaceae | tree |
*Grevillea robusta | English: silk oak, silky oak, he oak, silver oak, spider flower; Other: ‘oka kilika, ha‘iku ke‘oke‘o (Hawai’i), oke‘ (Tonga) | Proteaceae | tree |
Heliconia spp. | English: heliconia, parrot’s-flower, parrot’s-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw; Other: tiare pārata‘ito (Cook Islands) | Heliconiaceae | herb |
Hemigraphis alternata | English: metal leaf; red ivy, cemetery plant (Fiji); Other: suipi (American Samoa and Samoa) | Acanthaceae | herb |
Hippobroma longiflora | English: star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other: pua hōkū (Hawai’i) | Campanulaceae | herb |
*Hylocereus undatus | English: night-blooming cereus, strawberry pear, red pitaya, dragon fruit, pitahaya; French: pitaya, pitahaya rouge; Spanish: flor de Caliz; Other: paniniokapunahou, papipi pua (Hawai’i) | Cactaceae | succulent |
Hyptis pectinata | English: comb hyptis, comb bushmint, mint weed, purple top; French: fausse menthe; Spanish: poleo o iso (Galapagos); Other: miri tītā (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); tamole ni veikau, tamoli ni vavalangi, timothi ni vavalangi, wavuwavu, ndamoli, ben tulsia (Fiji); mumutun lahe, mumutun palaoan, mumutan ademelon (Guam); vao mini (Samoa) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Indigofera suffruticosa | English: indigo; Other: ‘initiko (Cook Islands); aniles (Guam); ‘iniko, inikoa, kolu (Hawai’i); la‘au mageso (Samoa); ‘akau veli (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Ipomoea aquatica | English: aquatic morning glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach, ung-choi, kang kong; French: liseron d’eau, patate aquatique; Other: aseri, seeri, seri (Chuuk); rukau taviri? (Cook Islands); ota karisa, ota karisi, wa kumala, ndrinikava, luve ne tombithi (Fiji), akankong, cancon, kangkun, kangkung, kankan (Guam); te kang kong (Kiribati); lorenzo (Nauru), kangum, kangkum (Palau); ‘umala vai (Samoa); kangkong (Ulithi, Yap); kangking, kongkong (Yap) | Convolvulaceae | aquatic herb |
*Jacaranda mimosifolia | English: jacaranda | Bignoniaceae | tree |
*Jatropha curcas | English: physic nut, purging nut, Barbados nut; French: médicinier, pignon d’Inde, purghère; Other: tuitui pakarangi, pakarani (Cook Islands); fiki (Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga); wiriwiri, wiriwiri ni vavalangi, uto ni vavalangi, banidakai, mbanindakai, manggele, maqele, ndrala (Fiji); tuba-tuba (Guam); kuku‘ihi (Hawai‘i), kuikui Pake (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau), laupata (Samoa) | Euphorbiaceae | shrub |
Justicia carnea | English: pink plume-flower, pink jacobinia | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Kyllinga brevifolia | English: green kyllinga, green water sedge; Other: tumu ‘enua (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); kili‘o‘opu, kaluha, manunene, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); tuise (Samoa); pakopako (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other: neke ‘enua (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Ngaputoru?)); chaguan lemae, botoncillo (Guam—Chamorro); 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 | |
Lablab purpureus | English: hyacinth bean, lablab, bonavist, Egyptian kidney bean, dolichos; French: dolique, dolique d’Egypte, pois nourrice; Other: ndralawa, natomba, tomba (Fiji); cheribilla apaka, chuchumeko (Guam—Chamorro); papapa, pi (Hawai‘i); pini lae puaka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
Leonurus japonicus | English: lion’s tail, Chinese motherwort; Other: vavai tara (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro) | Lamiaceae | herb |
*Leptospermum scoparium | English: New Zealand tea; manuka (New Zealand) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Leucaena leucocephala | English: leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree; French: graines de lin, faux-acacia, faux mimosa (New Caledonia); Other: lopa Samoa, fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa); nītō, mara‘inu (Cook Islands); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai dina, balori (Fiji); atiku (French Polynesia (Marquesas)); ipel-ipel (Galapagos); tangantangan, tangan-tangan, talantayan (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands); talntangan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); koa haole, lili-koa, ekoa (Hawai‘i); te kaitetua (Kiribati); tuhngantuhngan, rohbohtin (Kosrae); tavahi kaku (Niue); pepe (Niue and Samoa); telentund (Palau); lusina (Samoa); siale mohemohe (Tonga); cassis (Vanuatu); ganitnityuwan tangantan (Yap); namas (from Ecoport, source not given) | Fabaceae | tree |
*Licuala grandis | English: ruffled fan palm; French: palmier-cuillère | Arecaceae | tree (palm) |
Macroptilium atropurpureum | English: siratro, purple bushbean | Fabaceae | herb |
*Melicoccus bijugatus | English: Spanish lime | Sapindaceae | tree |
Melinis repens | English: Natal redtop, Natal grass, red Natal grass, Holme’s grass, blanketgrass; French: herbe du Natal, herbe rose, herbe pappangue; tricholène (New Caledonia); Other: salapona (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Merremia tuberosa | English: wood rose, Spanish arborvine, yellow morning-glory; French: liane-à-tonelle, liane-jaune; Other: alarrak (Saipan); pilikai (Hawai‘i) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Mimosa pudica | English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; French: sensitive; Other: la‘au fefe, vao fefe, vao tuitui, tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa); pikika‘a, rākau pikika‘a, rākau ‘avare, rākau ‘avarevare, tiare pikika‘a, tītā pikika‘a, rākau pikika (Cook Islands); paope ‘āvare (Cook Islands (Ngaputoru)); tho ngandrongandro, tho kandrodandro, cogadrogadro (Fiji); pohe ha‘avare, pope ha‘avare (French Polynesia); betguen sosa (Guam); pua hilahila (Hawai‘i); memege (Niue); mechiuaiu (Palau); limemeihr (Pohnpei); mateloi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Muntingia calabura | English: jam tree, strawberry tree, Jamaican cherry, Singapore cherry, Panama cherry, Panama berry, ornamental cherry, calabura, sirsen; French: bois ramier; Other: venevene (Cook Islands (Penrhyn)); capulin (Fiji, French Polynesia); manzanilla, mansanita, manzanita (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), budo (Palau, Yap) | Tiliaceae | tree |
*Murraya paniculata | English: orange jessamine, satin-wood, Chinese box, Hawaiian mock orange; Other: tiare ‘ānani (Cook Islands, French Polynesia) | Rutaceae | shrub/tree |
Nymphaea spp. | English: water lily; Other: riri vai (Cook Islands) | Nymphaeaceae | herb |
Ocimum gratissimum | English: wild basil, clove basil, tree basil; French: basilic, menthe gabonaise; Other: miri tītā, miri tūtae puaka, miri nganga‘ere, miri tūpāpaku (Cook Islands); miri papa‘ā, miri taratoni (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); la’au sauga (Samoa) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Operculina ventricosa | English: paper rose, St. Thomas lidpod; Other: alalag (Guam); palulu (Samoa); fue hina (Tonga) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
*Opuntia spp. | English: prickly pear; Other: lengua de vaca (Guam) | Cactaceae | succulents |
*Paraserianthes lophantha | English: brush wattle, plume albizia, plume acacia, stink bean | Fabaceae | shrub/tree |
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: vaolima, (American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, Niue); fetin wumwune (Chuuk); mauku taravao, mauku katini (Cook Islands); mau‘u Hilo (Hawai‘i), muhsrasre (Kosrae); moise vaolima, motie vaolima (Niue and Tonga); udel ra ngebei (Palau); rehn wai (Pohnpei); vaolima matafao, vaolima papalagi (Samoa) | 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 paniculatum | English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass; Other: matie manutai (Cook Islands); taravao ‘uru‘uru (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum scrobiculatum | English: rice grass; creeping paspalum, ditch millet, Indian paspalum, kodo millet, water couch; Spanish: mijo koda; Other: mātā (Cook Islands); co duru levu, tho nduru levu, tho ndina, tho ni ndina (Fiji); karasi (Solomon Islands) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum urvillei | English: Vasey grass; French: herbe de Vasey, paspalum d’Urville; Other: tinikarāti (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) | Poaceae | grass |
Passiflora edulis | English: passion fruit, yellow passion fruit, purple passion fruit, qarandila, purple granadilla; French: grenadille; Spanish: maracuya (Galapagos Is.); Other: pārapōutini papa‘ā (Cook Islands); ka‘atene papa‘ā, katinga papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); liliko‘i (Hawai‘i), pompom (Pohnpei); pasio (Samoa); vaine (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Passiflora laurifolia | English: yellow granadilla, belle apple, yellow water-lemon; French: pomme-liane, pomme d’or; Other: pasio vao (Samoa); vaine ‘ae kuma (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
*Passiflora ligularis | English: sweet granadilla, yellow passionfruit; French: granadille, grenadille douce, barbadine; French: granadille, grenadille douce, barbadine; Other: lemi wai, lani wai, lemona (Hawai‘i) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Passiflora maliformis | English: hard-shelled passionfruit, sweet calabash, sweet cup; French: pomme calabas; Other: pārapōutini ‘enua, pārapōutini Maori (Cook Islands); ka‘atene Maori, katinga Maori (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); pasio (Samoa), vaine kai (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
*Passiflora quadrangularis | English: granadilla, giant granadilla; French: barbadine; Spanish: badea (Galapagos Is.); Other: papatini, pārapōtini, pārapōtini maata? (Cook Islands); kūkuma (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); maratini (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Miti‘aro)); para pautini (French Polynesia); palasini, palatini, vine fua lalahi, vine palasini, tinitini (Niue); kudamono (Palau); pasio (Samoa); pasione (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Passiflora rubra | English: red passionfruit, Dutchman’s laudanum; Other: pōkutekute (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Pinus caribaea | English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); paina (Samoa); paini (Tonga) | Pinaceae | tree |
*Platycerium bifurcatum | English: elkhorn fern, staghorn fern | Selaginellaceae | fern |
Pluchea indica | English: Indian fleabane, Indian pluchea, Indian camphorweed | Asteraceae | shrub |
Pueraria phaseoloides | English: tropical kudzu, puero; Other: kūkū (Cook Islands (‘Aitu)) | Fabaceae | vine |
*Pyrostegia venusta | English: flame vine, flame flower, golden shower, orange trumpet vine | Bignoniaceae | vine |
Quisqualis indica | English: Rangoon creeper | Combretaceae | vine |
Ricinus communis | English: castor bean, castor-oil plant; French: ricin; Spanish: higuerilla; Other: lama palagi, lama papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa); tuitui papa‘ā (Cook Islands); 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 (American Samoa and Samoa); tītā ‘aruru (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); vao elefane (Samoa) | Acanthaceae | herb |
*Samanea saman | English: monkeypod, rain tree, saman; French: arbre de pluie; Other: tronkon mames, trongkon-mames (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands-Chamorro); filinganga (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands-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 |
*Sanchezia speciosa | English: sanchezia. | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Sansevieria trifasciata | English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue; French: chanvre d’Afrique; Other: riri (Cook Islands); tigre (Guam), kitelel (Palau) | Agavaceae | herb |
*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: fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); arakak (Chuuk); mbai ni thangi (Fiji); akapuku, andadose, candalaria, take-biha (Guam); mulamula (Niue); kerula besokel, yult (Palau); rakau honuki, truke-n-kili-n-wai, tuhkehn kilin wai, tirakahonuki (Pohnpei); bakau plant (Solomon Islands); te‘elango (Tonga); flay-n-sabouw (Yap) | Fabaceae | shrub |
*Senna siamea | English: cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia, pheasantwood, Thailand shower; French: bois perdrix; Other: kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | tree |
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: vao pinati (American Samoa and Samoa); kaumoce, kaumothe, pini, tarota (Fiji); mumutun admelon, mumutun palaoan, amot-tumaga carabao (Guam), te’epulu, tengafefeka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
*Sesbania grandiflora | English: sesbania, hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree, corkwood tree; French: agati a grandes fleurs; Other: agati, agathi (Fiji); oufai, ofai, ouai (French Polynesia); katurai (Guam); ohai ke‘oke‘o (Hawai‘i); sepania (Samoa) | Fabaceae | small tree |
Setaria pumila | English: foxtail, garden bristle grass, hairy-tail grass, yellow bristlegrass, Queensland pigeon grass (Australia), cat’s tail grass (Fiji); French: sétaire glauque | Poaceae | grass |
*Solandra maxima | English: golden cup, cup of gold, chalice vine; Spanish: copa de oro | Solanaceae | liana |
Solanum mauritianum | English: bugweed, wild tobacco, tree tobacco; Other: rau ‘ava‘ava (Cook Islands); pua nana honua (Hawai‘i); pula (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub |
Sporobolus indicus | English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Stenotaphrum secundatum | English: buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass; French: chiendent de boeuf; Spanish: pasto San Augustín; Other: ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie ‘aki‘aki, mānienie ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie māhikihiki (Hawai‘i) | Poaceae | grass |
Stylosanthes guianensis | English: stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) | Fabaceae | herb |
Syzygium jambos | English: malabar plum, rose apple, Malay apple; French: jambosier, pomme-rose, pommier rose; Spanish: pomarosa; Other: ka‘ika papa‘ā (Cook Islands except Ma‘uke), ka‘ika takataka (Cook Islands); ka‘ika varani (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); ka‘ika (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); kavika, kavika ni vavalangi, kavika ni India (Fiji), ahi‘a papa‘a, 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 |
Thevetia peruviana | English: yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut; French: oléandre jaune; Other: koneta (Chuuk); venevene (Cook Islands (Mangaia)), ‘enere (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Miti‘aro)); nohomalie (Hawai‘i); irelepsech (Yap) | Apocynaceae | small tree |
*Thunbergia alata | English: black-eyed susan vine; French: suzanne aux yeux noirs | Acanthaceae | vine |
English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine; Other: fue hina (Tonga) | Acanthaceae | vine | |
English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: bung el etiu (Palau) | Acanthaceae | vine | |
English: purple allamanda, laurel-leaved thunbergia, laurel clock vine | Acanthaceae | vine | |
Tithonia diversifolia | English: tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower; Other: pua renga (Cook Islands); tiare rengarenga (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); kavakava, pua renga (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); matala (Niue) | Asteraceae | shrub |
*Toona ciliata | English: Australian red cedar, toon, surian, Indian mahogany; Other: wood pikake (Hawai‘i); tuna (Samoa);, sita kula (Tonga) | Meliaceae | tree |
Tradescantia spathacea | English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat; Other: riri mangio (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); riri raei (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); talotalo, laupapaki (Niue); faina kula (Tonga) | Commelinaceae | herb |
Tradescantia zebrina | English: wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant; Other: mauku papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) | Commelinaceae | herb |
English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other: manutofu, mautofu, mautofu vao (American Samoa and Samoa); vavai tara tītā (Cook Islands); piripiri (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); qatima (Fiji), urio (French Polynesia); dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam); mosipo (Niue); mo‘osipo (Tonga) | Tiliaceae | shrub | |
English: Sacramento bur; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam) | Tiliaceae | shrub | |
English: hibiscus burr, aramina, caesarweed, pink Chinese burr, urena burr, bur mallow; French: jute africain, cousin urène; Other: mautofu (American Samoa and Samoa); nognuk, ocher (Chuuk); qatima, gataya, nggatima (Fiji); vavai tara tītā (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); piripiri (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); dadangsi, dadangsi apaka, dadangsi machingat, dádangse (Guam); motipo, mosipo (Niue); chosuched e kui, osuched a rechui (Palau); karap, korop (Pohnpei); mo’osipo Tonga (Tonga) | Malvaceae | shrub | |
English: California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass; French: herbe de Para; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands); puakatau (Tonga) (Swarbrick, 1997) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass | Poaceae | grass |
*Only seen or reported to be in cultivation
Table 4. Native species (or Polynesian introductions) that can exhibit aggressive behavior
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Casuarina equisetifolia | English: casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; French: arbe de fer; Spanish: arbol de hierro; Other: toa (American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hawai‘i, Niue, Samoa and Tonga); weeku (Chuuk); nokonoko, nokonoko ndamu, nggaro, thau, velau, nakure, qaro (Fiji); ‘aito (French Polynesia (Society Islands)); gagu, gago (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); weighu (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands-Carolinian); pientri (pinetree), nidil, bû ukam (bluegum on some atolls), nidõ (needle" on some atolls) burukam (Kiribati); mejinoki (Marshall Islands); agas, agasu, ngas, ngasu (Palau); ueuhir (Satawal); neokuk, ueoku, ueokuk (Satawan); lach (Ulithi); laash (Woleai); noc, nach (Yap); te katurina (from Ecoport, source not given) | Casuarinaceae | tree |
Chrysopogon aciculatus | English: Mackie’s pest, lovegrass, seed grass, golden beardgrass, seedy grass (Solomon Islands); French: herbe plate, herbe à piquant; Other: matie ‘enua, mauku ko‘eko‘e (Cook Islands); tuakura (Cook Islands (Ngaputoru)); papapa (French Polynesia); inifuk, palaii (Guam); manienie ‘ula, pi‘ipi‘i, pilipili ‘ula (Hawai‘i); mosie fisi (Niue); iul (Palau); mutia tai, mutia vao (Samoa); matapekepeke, matapekapeka matapekepeka (Tonga); herbe plate (Vanuatu) | Poaceae | grass |
Merremia peltata | English: merremia; Other: fue vae (American Samoa), fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa); fidau, fitau, fitaw, fitay (Chuuk); kūrima (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); wa mbula, wa bula, wa damu, wa ndamu, viliyawa, wiliviwa, veliyana, wiliao (Fiji); pohue (French Polynesia); lagon, lagoun, lagun (Guam); pala, pul, para, puhlah (Kosrae); fue, fue vao, fue kula (Niue); kebeas (Palau); ceul, lohl, iol, yol, yool (Pohnpei); abui, grobihi, arosumou (Solomon Islands); fue mea (Tonga); wachathal (Yap) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Trema orientalis | English: charcoal tree, gunpowder tree; Other: agaunai, banahl, tal amama (CNMI); elodechoel (Palau); uanin (Yap); ndrou, ndroundrou, ndrikanaithembe (Fiji); aere (French Polynesia), mangele, manele, magele (Niue, Samoa, Tonga) | Ulmaceae | tree |
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This page revised 22 April 2006