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 |
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 |
English: hen's eyes, Hilo holly, coral berry, Australian holly, scratchthroat; French: arbre à noël | Rarotonga | |
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 |
English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji) | Rarotonga | |
English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass | Rarotonga | |
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 |
English: purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree, pink butterfly tree (Fiji); French: fleurs pourpres | Rarotonga? | |
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 |
English: red powder puff; French: pompon | Rarotonga | |
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 |
English: calotrope, crown flower, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai'i); tahinu (French Polynesia) | Rarotonga | |
English: balloon vine; heart seed; Other: kopūpū takaviri? (Cook Islands) | Rarotonga | |
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 |
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 | |
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 | |
English: camphor tree, camphor laurel; French: camphre, camphrier | Rarotonga | |
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 |
English: egeria, leafy elodea, dense waterweed | Rarotonga | |
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 |
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 |
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 | |
Rarotonga, Mangaia, Ma'uke | ||
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 |
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 |
English: balloon plant, bladderbush | Rarotonga | |
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 |
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 | |
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 | |
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 |
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 | |
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 |
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 |
English: yellow granadilla, belle apple, yellow water-lemon; French: pomme-liane, pomme d'or; Other: pasio vao (Samoa); vaine 'ae kuma (Tonga) | Ma‘uke | |
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 |
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 | |
English: fountain grass | Rarotonga | |
Phyllostachys bissetii | English: running bamboo | Mangaia |
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 |
English: flame vine, flame flower, golden shower, orange trumpet vine | Rarotonga | |
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 |
English: sanchezia | Rarotonga, Aitutaki, 'Atiu | |
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 |
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 |
English: black-eyed susan vine; French: suzanne aux yeux noirs | Rarotonga | |
English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine; Other: fue hina (Tonga) | Rarotonga, Mangaia, Miti’aro | |
English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: bung el etiu (Palau) | Rarotonga | |
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 |
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 | |
English: Sacramento bur; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam) | Rarotonga, Aitutaki | |
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 | |
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 | |
English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass | Ma'uke, Miti'aro |
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This page revised 22 April 2006