Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Report on invasive plant species in the Cook Islands
Appendix 6. Invasive and potentially invasive species present on ‘Atiu
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); hathongethong, kamwayang, nikapwerik, setmwechin, sotumo (Yap) | Malvaceae | herb |
Acacia crassicarpa | English: northern wattle, Papua New Guinea red wattle | 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, CNMI); hua‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i); (metekam, metkam, metkem, mwetkwem (Kosrae); telengtúngd, telentundalel (Palau); kaikes (Pohnpei) | 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 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 |
*Asparagus setaceus | English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa; French: asperge plumeuse; Other: remu (Cook Islands); taupo ‘ou (Tonga) | Liliaceae | vine |
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 (CNMI); 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 |
*Callisia fragrans | English: fragrant inch plant, basketplant, spironema | Commelinaceae | herb |
Calopogonium mucunoides | English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine |
Cananga odorata | English: perfume tree; French: canang odorant; Other: moso‘oi (American Samoa and Samoa); pwanang, pwuur, pwalang (Chuuk); ylang-ylang, lengileng; (CNMI); 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 |
*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 |
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 |
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 |
*Cryptostegia madagascariensis | English: Madagascar rubber vine | Asclepiadaceae | 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: 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 | |
Dieffenbachia seguine | English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane; Other: yalu ni vavalagi (Fiji) | Araceae | herb |
Digitaria ciliaris | English: Henry's crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, tropical crab grass, large crab grass, southern crabgrass, fingergrass, summer grass; French: digitaire ciliée; Other: kukaepua'a (Hawai'i); Saulangi (Niue) | Poaceae | grass |
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 (Hawaii); 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 |
*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 |
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 | |
*Ficus elastica | English: India rubber tree, rubber plant; Other: rapa (Cook Islands); komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak‘iynigoma (Yap) | Moraceae | tree |
*Flemingia strobilifera | English: luck plant, wild hops; French: sainfoin du bengale; Other: besungelaiei (Palau) | Fabaceae | shrub |
*Gliricidia sepium | English: mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac; Spanish: madre de cacao | Fabaceae | tree |
Gmelina arborea | English: gmelina, white teak, white beech; Spanish: melina; Other: yemane (Fiji, Philippines) | Verbenaceae | 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 |
*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 flavescen | 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 |
*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 |
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 |
*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 |
Kyllinga nemoralis | 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 |
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 |
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) | Fabaceae | tree |
*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 |
Macroptilium atropurpureum | English: siratro, purple bushbean | Fabaceae | herb |
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 |
*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 |
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 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 |
*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 |
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) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum conjugatum | English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); French: herbe sure, herbe créole; herbe de tauère (New Caledonia); Other: 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 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 |
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 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 |
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 |
*Pimenta racemosa | English: bay tree, bay rum tree, bay oil tree, malagueta; Other: sinamoni (Tonga) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Pinus caribaea | English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); paina (Samoa); paini (Tonga) | Pinaceae | tree |
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 | |
Pueraria phaseoloides | English: tropical kudzu, puero; Other: kūkū (Cook Islands (‘Aitu)) | Fabaceae | 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 |
*Sambucus mexicana | English: elderberry, Mexican elder | Caprifoliaceae | small tree |
Sanchezia parvibracteata | 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 siamea | English: cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia, pheasantwood, Thailand shower; French: bois perdrix; Other: kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | 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 |
*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 (CNMI); 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 |
Stylosanthes guianensis | English: stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) | Fabaceae | 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 |
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 |
Tecoma stans | 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 |
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 |
*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 |
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) | Tiliaceae | shrub |
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) | Malvaceae | shrub |
*Only seen or reported to be in cultivation
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This page new 10 November 2002.