Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Report on invasive plant species in the Cook Islands


Appendix 17. Invasive and potentially invasive species present on southern Cook Islands but not reported to be present on the northern Cook Islands

Scientific Name

Common Names

Present on:

Acacia aulacocarpa English: brown salwood, brush ironbark wattle, hickory wattle Mangaia
Acacia auriculiformis English: Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands); tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) Rarotonga, Mangaia
Acacia crassicarpa English: northern wattle, Papua New Guinea red wattle ‘Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Acacia farnesiana 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, CNMI); kolu (Hawai'i); te kaibakoa (Kiribati); debena (Nauru) Rarotonga, Aitutaki
Acacia glauca redwood Ma'uke

Acacia mearnsii

English: black wattle; French: acacia noir; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands) Rarotonga
Albizia lebbeck 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 (CNMI–Chamorro); schepil kalaskas (CNMI–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) Rarotonga, Miti'aro
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Alpinia purpurata English: red ginger; Other: kōpī muramura (Cook Islands); thevunga (Fiji); ‘awapuhi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i); teuila (Samoa); tevunga (Tonga) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Ma’uke
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) ‘Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga
Anredera cordifolia English: Madeira vine, mignonette vine, lamb's tails; Other: tāpau (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); ‘uala hupe (Hawai‘i); filikafa (Niue) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma’uke
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu

Ardisia crenata

English: hen's eyes, Hilo holly, coral berry, Australian holly, scratchthroat; French: arbre à noël Rarotonga

Ardisia elliptica

English: shoebutton ardisia; Other: venevene tinitō (Cook Islands); ati popa‘a, atiu (French Polynesia); togo vao (Samoa) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Aristolochia littoralis English: Dutchman's pipe, calico flower; Other: mokorā (Cook Islands); fue paipa holani (Tonga) Mangaia
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) Rarotonga
Asparagus densiflorus English: asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern Rarotonga

Axonopus compressus

English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji) Rarotonga

Axonopus fissifolius

English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass Rarotonga

Azadirachta indica

English: neem, nim, margosa Rarotonga
Azolla filiculoides English: mosquito fern Rarotonga, Mangaia, Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti’aro

Bauhinia purpurea

English: purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree, pink butterfly tree (Fiji); French: fleurs pourpres Rarotonga?

Bauhinia variegata

English: orchid tree; mountain ebony, butterfly tree (Fiji); French: bois de boeuf, sabot boeuf, arbre de Saint-Thomas Rarotonga
Bothriochloa bladhii English: blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem; Other: desum (Palau); latoka grass, thamboni grass (Fiji) Aitutaki
Bryophyllum delagoense English: chandelier plant Rarotonga

Calliandra haematocephala

English: red powder puff; French: pompon Rarotonga

Calliandra surinamensis

English: Surinamese stickpea Rarotonga
Callisia fragrans English: fragrant inch plant, basketplant, spironema Aitutaki, 'Atiu
Calopogonium mucunoides English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) ‘Atiu, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

Calotropis gigantea

English: calotrope, crown flower, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai'i); tahinu (French Polynesia) Rarotonga

Cardiospermum grandiflorum

English: balloon vine; heart seed; Other: kopūpū takaviri? (Cook Islands) Rarotonga

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) Miti'aro
Carludovica palmata English: Panama hat plant; French: carludovique palmée; Spanish: chidra, palma de sombrero, palma jipijapa, toquilla; Other:  Panamā (Cook Islands) Rarotonga, 'Atiu
Cecropia obtusifolia English:  trumpet tree, guarumo; Other: rau-māniota (Cook Islands) Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, ‘Atiu
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

Cestrum diurnum

English: inkberry, day jessamine, day cestrum, China berry; Other: ariki-va‘ine (Cook Islands); thauthau (Fiji); tinta ‘n-China, tentanchinu, tintan China (Guam, CNMI); makahala (Hawai'i); sugi vao, suni vao (Samoa); vaitohi (Tonga) Rarotonga, Mangaia

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); 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) Rarotonga, Mangaia

Cinnamomum camphora

English: camphor tree, camphor laurel; French: camphre, camphrier Rarotonga

Cinnamomum verum

English: cinnamon tree; French: cannelier de Ceylan; Other: ochod ra ngebard (Palau). tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) Rarotonga, Miti'aro
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) Rarotonga
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 (CNMI); pepe (Niue); latoela, nawa (Fiji), paipa (Tonga) Rarotonga
Cortaderia selloana English: pampas grass, silver pampas grass, Uruguayan pampas grass Rarotonga
Costus speciosus English: crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed; Other: isebsab (Palau) Rarotonga, 'Atiu
Crotalaria micans English: crotalaria; Other: pine kotalelia, pile (Niue) Mangaia, Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga, Mangaia
Cyperus involucratus English: umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass; Other: ‘ahu‘awa haole, pu‘uka‘a haole (Hawai‘i) Rarotonga, Aitutaki
Derris elliptica 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) Rarotonga
Derris malaccensis 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) ‘Atiu, Ma'uke
Desmodium tortuosum English: Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil Mangaia
Digitaria violascens English: smooth crabgrass, violet crabgrass; Other: sau (Palau) Rarotonga
Dissotis rotundifolia English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady Rarotonga, Ma'uke
Duranta erecta English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other: ‘olive (Tonga) Rarotonga

Egeria densa

English: egeria, leafy elodea, dense waterweed Rarotonga

Eichhornia crassipes

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) Rarotonga, Mangaia
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Erigeron karvinskianus English: Mexican daisy, seaside daisy, daisy fleabane Rarotonga
Falcataria moluccana English: Molucca albizia; Other: tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); ‘ārapitia (Cook Islands); tuhke kerosene, tuhkehn karisihn (Pohnpei); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); tamaligi paepae (Samoa) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke

Ficus benjamina

English: weeping fig, baka, Java fig, weeping fig ; Other: ‘ovava fisi (Tonga) Rarotonga
Ficus elastica English: India rubber tree, rubber plant; Other: rapa (Cook Islands); komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak‘iynigoma (Yap) Rarotonga, 'Atiu
Ficus macrophylla English: Moreton Bay fig Rarotonga
Flacourtia jangomas English: Indian-plum, runeala-plum; French: prunier d'Inde; Spanish: ciruela forastera Rarotonga, Mangaia, Ma’uke

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) Rarotonga

Flemingia macrophylla

Rarotonga, Mangaia, Ma'uke

Flemingia strobilifera

English: luck plant, wild hops; French: sainfoin du bengale; Other: besungelaiei (Palau) Rarotonga, 'Atiu
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mangaia

Gliricidia sepium

English: mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac; Spanish: madre de cacao Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Gmelina arborea English: gmelina, white teak, white beech; Spanish: melina; Other: yemane (Fiji, Philippines) Rarotonga, ‘Atiu

Gomphocarpus physocarpus

English: balloon plant, bladderbush Rarotonga

Grevillea banksii

English: kahili flower, Banks grevillea; Other: ha‘iku, kahili (Hawai‘i); ‘oka pua ‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)) Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, ‘Atiu, Mangaia

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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke

Hedychium gardnerianum

English: kahili ginger; Other: kōpī (Cook Islands); cevuga dromodromo (Fiji); kahili, ‘awapuhi kahili (Hawai‘i); sinter weitahta (Pohnpei) Rarotonga, Mangaia
Heliconia spp. English: heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw; Other: tiare pārata‘ito (Cook Islands) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Ma'uke
Hemigraphis alternata English: metal leaf; red ivy, cemetery plant (Fiji); Other: suipi (American Samoa and Samoa) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Hippobroma longiflora English: star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other: pua hōkū (Hawai'i) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mangaia
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) Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Miti'aro
Indigofera suffruticosa English: indigo; Other: ‘initiko (Cook Islands); aniles (Guam); ‘iniko, inikoa, kolu (Hawai'i); la‘au mageso (Samoa); ‘akau veli (Tonga) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga
Jacaranda mimosifolia English: jacaranda Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, ‘Atiu, Ma'uke
Justicia carnea English: pink plume-flower, pink jacobinia Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu
Leonurus japonicus English: lion’s tail, Chinese motherwort; Other: vavai tara (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro
Leptospermum scoparium English: New Zealand tea; manuka (New Zealand) Rarotonga
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, CNMI, Marshall Islands); talntangan (CNMI); 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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia
Licuala grandis English: ruffled fan palm; French: palmier-cuillère Rarotonga?
Lonicera japonica English: Japanese honeysuckle, Hall’s honeysuckle; Other: pitate papa‘ā (Cook Islands); mangamangā rima (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); honekakala (Hawai‘i) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Macfadyena unguis-cati English: cat's-claw climber Rarotonga
Macroptilium atropurpureum English: siratro, purple bushbean Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Ma'uke, Miti‘aro
Melicoccus bijugatus English: Spanish lime Rarotonga, ‘Atiu
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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke

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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Miti'aro

Merremia tuberosa

English: wood rose, Spanish arborvine, yellow morning-glory; French: liane-à-tonelle, liane-jaune; Other: alarrak (Saipan); pilikai (Hawai‘i) Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Ma'uke, Miti'aro
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); Aitutaki

Murraya paniculata

English: orange jessamine, satin-wood, Chinese box, Hawaiian mock orange; Other: tiare ‘ānani (Cook Islands, French Polynesia) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia
Nymphaea spp. English: water lily; Other: riri vai (Cook Islands) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Odontonema tubaeforme English: fire spike, cardinal flower; Other: totoē (American Samoa and Samoa) Rarotonga, Mangaia
Operculina ventricosa English: paper rose, St. Thomas lidpod; Other: alalag (Guam); palulu (Samoa); fue hina (Tonga) Rarotonga
Opuntia spp. English: prickly pear; Other: lengua de vaca (Guam) Rarotonga, Aitutaki
Panicum maximum 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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Paraserianthes lophantha English: brush wattle, plume albizia, plume acacia, stink bean Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, Ma'uke, Miti'aro
Paspalum paniculatum English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass; Other: matie manutai (Cook Islands); taravao ‘uru‘uru (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Paspalum urvillei English: Vasey grass; French: herbe de Vasey, paspalum d'Urville; Other: tinikarāti (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) Rarotonga, Mangaia
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) Rarotonga

Passiflora laurifolia

English: yellow granadilla, belle apple, yellow water-lemon; French: pomme-liane, pomme d'or; Other: pasio vao (Samoa); vaine 'ae kuma (Tonga) Ma‘uke

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) Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia

Pennisetum setaceum

English: fountain grass Rarotonga
Phyllostachys bissetii English: running bamboo Mangaia

Phyllostachys nigra

English: black bamboo; French: bambou noir Rarotonga
Pimenta racemosa English: bay tree, bay rum tree, bay oil tree, malagueta; Other: sinamoni (Tonga) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro
Pinus caribaea English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); paina (Samoa); paini (Tonga) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
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 Rarotonga
Platycerium bifurcatum English: elkhorn fern, staghorn fern Rarotonga
Pueraria phaseoloides English: tropical kudzu, puero; Other: kūkū (Cook Islands (‘Aitu)) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Ma'uke

Pyrostegia venusta

English: flame vine, flame flower, golden shower, orange trumpet vine Rarotonga

Quisqualis indica

English: Rangoon creeper Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia
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) Rarotonga, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

Sanchezia parvibracteata

English: sanchezia Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu

Sanchezia speciosa

English: sanchezia. Rarotonga
Schefflera actinophylla English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm; French: arbre-pieuvre, arbre ombelle Rarotonga
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) Rarotonga

Senna siamea

English: cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia, pheasantwood, Thailand shower; French: bois perdrix; Other: kasia (Tonga) ‘Atiu
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) Ma'uke
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) Rarotonga, Mangaia
Setaria palmifolia English: palmgrass, short pitpit, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass; Other: vao ‘ofe‘ofe (Samoa)
Setaria pumila English: foxtail, garden bristle grass, hairy-tail grass, yellow bristlegrass, Queensland pigeon grass (Australia), cat's tail grass (Fiji); French: sétaire glauque Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia
Solandra maxima English: golden cup, cup of gold, chalice vine; Spanish: copa de oro Rarotonga, Mangaia
Solanum capsicoides English: cockroach berry, devil’s apple, soda apple; Other: poro‘iti taratara (Cook Islands); kikania kei, akaaka, akaka (Hawai'i) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Ma'uke
Solanum mauritianum English: bugweed, wild tobacco, tree tobacco; Other: rau ‘ava‘ava (Cook Islands); pua nana honua (Hawai'i); pula (Tonga) Rarotonga, Aitutaki
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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu
Sporobolus indicus English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) Rarotonga, Aitutaki
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) Rarotonga
Stylosanthes guianensis English: stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) ‘Atiu, Ma'uke
Tabebuia heterophylla English: pink tecoma, pink trumpet tree, white cedar; Other: calice du pape Rarotonga
Tecoma stans English: yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush; Other: tekoma (Cook Islands); piti (French Polynesia, Tonga); peeal (Puluwat) Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke
Tephrosia candida English: white tephrosia, white hoary-pea; French indigo sauvage, indigo blanc Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro
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) Rarotonga, Mangaia, Miti'aro

Thunbergia alata

English: black-eyed susan vine; French: suzanne aux yeux noirs Rarotonga

Thunbergia fragrans

English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine; Other: fue hina (Tonga) Rarotonga, Mangaia, Miti’aro

Thunbergia grandiflora

English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: bung el etiu (Palau) Rarotonga

Thunbergia laurifolia

English: purple allamanda, laurel-leaved thunbergia, laurel clock vine Rarotonga
Tibouchina urvilleana English: glorybush, lasiandra, princess flower Rarotonga
Toona ciliata English: Australian red cedar, toon, surian, Indian mahogany; Other: wood pikake (Hawai‘i); tuna (Samoa);, sita kula (Tonga) Mangaia
Tradescantia zebrina English:  wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant; Other: mauku papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) Rarotonga, Mangaia, Ma'uke
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) Mangaia

Triumfetta rhomboidea

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) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

Triumfetta semitriloba

English: Sacramento bur; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam) Rarotonga, Aitutaki

Urena lobata

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) Rarotonga, 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro

Urochloa mutica

English: California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass; French: herbe de Para; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands); puakatau (Tonga) (Swarbrick, 1997) Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Miti'aro

Urochloa subquadripara

English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Ma'uke, Miti'aro

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This page revised 22 April 2006