Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Report on invasive plant species on Niue
Appendix 2.
Table 1.
Species that are invasive elsewhere in similar ecosystems but are not known to be present
in Niue
Table 2. Introduced species that are invasive elsewhere
and are also invasive or potentially invasive in Niue
Table 3. Species that are reported as invasive or weedy
elsewhere and are common or weedy in Niue
Table 4. Native and naturalized species that exhibit
aggressive behavior
Scientific Name | Common Names | Family | Habit |
Acacia auriculiformis | English: Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle; Other: tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia confusa | English: Formosa koa, Formosa acacia; Other: sosigi, shoshigi, sosugi, boiffuring (Guam and CNMI–Chamorro); serepa, soschghi (CNMI–Carolinian); pilampwoia (Pohnpei); ianángi, yanangi (Palau) | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia farnesiana | English: Ellington curse, klu, sweet acacia; French: cassie; Other: aroma, popinac, kandaroma (Guam, CNMI); kolu (Hawai'i); vaivai vaka-vatona, vaivai vakavotona, ban baburi, oki (Fiji); te kaibakoa (Kiribati); debena (Nauru) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Acacia longifolia | English: Sydney golden wattle, golden wattle, long-leaved wattle, long-leaved acacia, sallow wattle, coast wattle, golden rods | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia mangium | English: mangium; Other: tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia mearnsii | English: black wattle; French: acacia noir | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia melanoxylon | English: Australian blackwood, blackwood acacia | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia nilotica | 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 |
Acacia spp. | English: acacia | Fabaceae | shrubs/trees |
Agave sisalana | 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 |
Ailanthus altissima | English: tree of heaven, varnishtree | Simaroubaceae | tree |
Albizia chinensis | English: Chinese albizia, silktree | Fabaceae | tree |
Albizia lebbeck | English: siris-tree, rain tree, East Indian walnut, kokko, woman's-tongue tree, soros-tree, raom tree ; French: bois noir; Other: 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) | Fabaceae | tree |
Alstonia macrophylla | English: devil-tree | Apocynaceae | tree |
Andropogon gayanus | English: gamba grass, tambuki grass | Poaceae | grass |
Andropogon glomeratus | English: bush beardgrass, bushy bluestem | Poaceae | grass |
Andropogon virginicus | English: broomsedge, yellow bluestem, whisky grass | Poaceae | grass |
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 |
Araujia sericifera | English: moth plant, moth catcher, white bladder flower | Asclepiadaceae | shrub |
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: ati popa'a, atiu (French Polynesia) | Myrsinaceae | 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 |
Aristolochia littoralis | English: Dutchman's pipe, calico flower; Other: fue paipa holani (Tonga) | Aristolochiaceae | vine |
Arthrostemma ciliatum | English: everblooming eavender | Melastomataceae | herb |
Arundo donax | English: giant reed, Spanish reed, wild cane; French: canne de Provence, grand roseau; Other: ngasau ni vavalangi (Fiji); fiso papalagi (Samoa); kaho folalahi (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Asparagus densiflorus | English: asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern | Liliaceae | herb |
Austroeupatorium inulaefolium | Asteraceae | herb | |
Axonopus compressus | English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji), vaolima (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass |
Azadirachta indica | English: neem, nim, margosa | Meliaceae | tree |
Barleria lupulina | English: hophead, Philippine violet | Acanthaceae | shrub |
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 |
Blainvillea gayana | Asteraceae | herb | |
Blechum pyramidata | English: green shrimp plant, blackweed (Samoa), Browne’s blechum; Other: yerbas babui (Guam), vao uliuli (Samoa) | Acanthaceae | herb |
Bocconia frutescens | English: bocconia, plume-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 | |
Bryophyllum delagoense | English: chandelier plant | Crassulaceae | herb |
Buddleja asiatica | English: dog tail; Other: huelo ‘ilio (Hawai'i) | Scrophulariaceae | shrub |
Buddleja davidii | English: orange eye, butterfly bush, summer lilac | Scrophulariaceae | shrub |
Buddleja madagascariensis | English: butterfly bush, smoke bush | Scrophulariaceae | shrub |
Caesalpinia decapetala | English: cats claw, Mysore thorn, Mauritius thorn, wait-a-bit; French: bois sappan; Other: puakelekino (Hawai'i) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Calamus spp. | 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 |
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 |
Calotropis procera | English: calotropis, rubber bush, apple of Sodom, mudar, madar, king’s crown, roostertree; French: arbre à soie | Asclepiadaceae | shrub/tree |
Cardiospermum grandiflorum | English: balloon vine; heart seed | Sapindaceae | vine |
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 obtusifolia | English: trumpet tree, guarumo | Cecropiaceae | tree |
Cecropia peltata | English: trumpet tree; French: parasolier, faux-ricin, pisse-roux, bois cannon | Cecropiaceae | tree |
Cedrela odorata | English: cigar box cedar, Mexican cedar, West Indian cedar, Spanish cedar, Barbados cedar; French: cèdre acajou, cèdre des barbares; Spanish: cedro cubano (Galapagos Is.); Other: sita hina (Tonga) | Meliaceae | tree |
Cenchrus brownii | English: burgrass, burr grass, sand-bur, slimbristle sandbur | Poaceae | grass |
Cestrum diurnum | English: inkberry, day jessamine, day cestrum, China berry; Other: thauthau (Fiji); tinta ‘n-China, tentanchinu, tintan China (Guam, CNMI); makahala (Hawai'i); sugi vao, suni vao (Samoa); vaitohi (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub |
Cestrum parqui | English: green cestrum, willow-leaved jessamine, Chilean cestrum, green poison-berry | Solanaceae | shrub |
Chloris radiata | English: plush-grass, radiate fingergrass | Poaceae | grass |
Chromolaena odorata | 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 |
Chrysobalanus icaco | English: coco plum, icaco; French: icacier, icaquier, icaque, prune colon; Other: apolo (Fiji) | Chrysobalanaceae | shrub |
Chrysophyllum oliviforme | English: satin leaf, wild star-apple, damson plum; Spanish: caimitillo | Sapotaceae | tree |
Cinchona pubescens | English: quinine tree, red cinchona; French: quinquina rouge; Spanish: cascarilla | Rubiaceae | tree |
Cinnamomum burmanni | English: padang cassia; French: cannelier de Malaisie | Lauraceae | tree |
Cinnamomum camphora | English: camphor tree, camphor laurel; French: camphre, camphrier | Lauraceae | tree |
Cinnamomum verum | English: cinnamon tree; French: cannelier de Ceylan; Other: ochod ra ngebard (Palau). tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) | Lauraceae | tree |
Cirsium vulgare | English: spear thistle, Scotch thistle, bull thistle, black thistle, plume thistle; Other: pua kali (Hawai'i) | Asteraceae | herb |
Cissus nodosa | English: grape ivy | Vitaceae | liana |
Citharexylum caudatum | English: juniper berry | Verbenaceae | tree |
Citharexylum spinosum | English: fiddlewood; Other: masese (Fiji) | Verbenaceae | tree |
Clausena excavata | English: clausena | Rutaceae | tree |
Clerodendrum japonicum | English: glorybower | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Clerodendrum paniculatum | English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower; Other: butcherechár, butecherechar (Palau); tukehn sousou (Pohnpei) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Clerodendrum quadriloculare | English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: tirooj in belle (Marshall Islands); kleuang (Palau); tuhkehn palau (Pohnpei), bagauac (Philippines) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Clidemia hirta | English: Koster’s curse, soap bush; French: canot-macaque; Other: kui, kúi (Palau); kauresinga, kaurasinga, roinisinga, ndraunisinga, mara na bulumakau, mbona na mbulamakau, vuti (Fiji); kaurasiga (from Ecoport, no source given) | Melastomataceae | shrub |
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) | Fabaceae | vine |
Clusia rosea | English: signature tree, autograph tree, copey, Scotch attorney, pitchapple | Guttiferae | tree |
Coccinia grandis | English: ivy gourd, scarlet-fruited gourd; Other: kundru (Fiji); kiuri awia (Marshall Islands); aipikohr (Pohnpei) | Cucurbitaceae | vine |
Conocarpus erectus | English: sea mulberry, buttonwood, button mangrove | Combretaceae | shrub/tree |
Cordia alliodora | English: laurel, Ecuador laurel, salmwood, Spanish elm; French: bois de Chypre, pardillo; Other: kotia (Samoa, Tonga) | Boraginaceae | tree |
Cordia curassavica | English: black sage | Boraginaceae | shrub |
Cordia glabra | English: broad-leaved cordia | Boraginaceae | tree |
Cortaderia jubata | English: jubata grass, Andean pampas grass, purple pampas grass | Poaceae | grass |
Cortaderia selloana | English: pampas grass, silver pampas grass, Uruguayan 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 |
Cryptostegia madagascariensis | English: Madagascar rubbervine | Asclepiadaceae | vine |
Cupaniopsis anacardioides | English: carrotwood, tuckeroo | Sapindaceae | tree |
Cyathea cooperi | English: Australian tree fern | Cyatheaceae | fern |
Dalbergia sissoo | English: Indian dalbergia, Indian rosewood, sissoo, shisham; French: ébénier juane | Fabaceae | tree |
Delairea odorata | English: German ivy, Italian ivy, cape ivy | Asteraceae | vine |
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) | Fabaceae | vine |
Desmanthus virgatus | Other: anil, jureminha (Brazil) | Fabaceae | herb |
Desmodium nicaraguense | Spanish: engorda-caballo, vara de arco, pie de paloma, vara larga, vara blanca, Juana de Arco, gutao, Juana Larga | Fabaceae | shrub |
Desmodium tortuosum | English: Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil | Fabaceae | herb |
Dichrostachys cinerea | English: aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, sickle bush, marabou-thorn, marabú, Sen Domeng, Saint Domingue, acacia Saint Domingue | Fabaceae | shrub |
Dieffenbachia seguine | English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane; Other: yalu ni vavalagi (Fiji) | Araceae | herb |
Digitaria insularis | English: cottongrass, sourgrass, feather-top grass | Poaceae | grass |
Dillenia suffruticosa | English: shrubby dillenia, shrubby simpoh | Dilleniaceae | shrub/tree |
Dissotis rotundifolia | English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady | Melastomataceae | herb |
Duranta erecta | English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other: ‘olive (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Echinochloa polystachya | English: aleman grass, carib grass, creeping rivergrass | Poaceae | grass |
Erigeron karvinskianus | English: Mexican daisy, seaside daisy, daisy fleabane | Asteraceae | herb |
Eriobotrya japonica | English: loquat, Japanese plum, Japanese medlar; French: bibassier, néflier du Japon; Other: loketi (Tonga) | Rosaceae | tree |
Ficus altissima | English: lofty fig, false banyan, council tree | Moraceae | tree |
Ficus benghalensis | English: banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; French: figuier des pagodes | Moraceae | tree |
Ficus benjamina | English: weeping fig, baka, Java fig, weeping fig ; Other: ‘ovava fisi (Tonga) | Moraceae | tree |
Ficus macrophylla | English: Moreton Bay fig | Moraceae | tree |
Ficus microcarpa | English: Chinese banyan, Malayan banyan, Indian laurel; Other: lulk (Palau); nunu (Chamorro, CNMI) | Moraceae | tree |
Ficus nota | English: tibig | Moraceae | tree |
Ficus rubiginosa | English: rusty-leaved fig, Port Jackson fig, littleleaf fig | Moraceae | 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 |
Flemingia macrophylla | Fabaceae | tree | |
Flemingia strobilifera | English: luck plant, wild hops; French: sainfoin du bengale; Other: besungelaiei (Palau) | Fabaceae | shrub |
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 |
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 |
Grewia asiatica | English: phalsa | Tiliaceae | tree |
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides | English: Senegal tea, temple plant | Asteraceae | herb |
Haematoxylum campechianum | English: logwood, bloodwood tree, campeachy wood, campeche | Fabaceae | tree |
Harungana madagascariensis | English: harungana | Clusiaceae | tree |
Hedychium coronarium | English: white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower; Other: tunun, sinser (Chuuk); ndrove, cevuga vula, dalasika (Fiji); thevunga (Fiji, Tonga); ‘awapuhi ke‘oke‘o (Hawai‘i), sinter pwetepwet (Pohnpei); tolon (Puluwat) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Hedychium gardnerianum | English: kahili gingerOther: cevuga dromodromo (Fiji); kahili, ‘awapuhi kahili (Hawai‘i); sinter weitahta (Pohnpei) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Heliocarpus popayanensis | English: moho, white moho | Tiliaceae | tree |
Heterocentron subtriplinervium | English: pearl flower | Melastomataceae | herb |
Hippobroma longiflora | English: star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other: pua hōkū (Hawai'i) | Campanulaceae | herb |
Hiptage benghalensis | English: hiptage; French: liane de cerf | Malpighiaceae | shrub |
Hymenachne amplexicaulis | English: hymenachne, trompetilla, West Indian marsh grass | Poaceae | grass |
Hyparrhenia rufa | English: jaragua grass, thatching grass | Poaceae | grass |
Hypochoeris radicata | 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 |
Hyptis suaveolens | English: wild spikenard, chan; French: gros baume, hyptis à odeur; Other: mumutun (Guam) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Imperata cylindrica | English: blady grass, cogon grass, satintail; French: paille de dys, paillotte, impérata cylindrique, impérate; Other: gi, ngi (Fiji); alang-alang, lalang (Indonesia, Malaysia); kasoring (Palau) | Poaceae | grass |
Ischaemum polystachyum | English: paddle grass; Other: mah (Kosrae); reh padil (Pohnpei) | Poaceae | grass |
Ischaemum rugosum | English: muraina grass, wrinkle duck-beak, saramatta grass; Other: tho muraina, co muraina (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Ischaemum timorense | English: centipede grass, stalkleaf murainagrass, lucuntu grass; Other: waidoi grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Jacaranda mimosifolia | English: jacaranda | Bignoniaceae | tree |
Jasminum fluminense | English: Brazilian jasmine | Oleaceae | vine |
Jatropha curcas | English: physic nut, purging nut, Barbados nut; French: médicinier, pignon d'Inde, purghère; Other: wiriwiri, wiriwiri ni vavalangi, uto ni vavalangi, banidakai, mbanindakai, manggele, maqele, ndrala (Fiji); fiki (Fiji, Tonga); tuba-tuba (Guam); kuku‘ihi (Hawai‘i), kuikui Pake (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau), laupata (Samoa) | Euphorbiaceae | shrub |
Jatropha gossypiifolia | English: bellyache bush, cotton-leaved physic nut | Euphorbiaceae | shrub |
Juncus spp. | English: rush | Juncaceae | rush |
Justicia carnea | English: pink plume-flower, pink jacobinia | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Kunzea ericoides | English: tree manuka, tree manuba, kanuka (New Zealand), burgan, white teatree | Myrtaceae | tree |
Khaya senegalensis | English: African mahogany, Senegal mahogany | Meliaceae | tree |
Lemna spp. | English: duckweed; Other: fala‘o‘oto (Samoa) | Lemnaceae | herb |
Leonotis nepetifolia | English: lion’s tail, lion’s ear, Christmas candlestick; French: gros bouton, gros tête | Lamiaceae | herb |
Leptospermum scoparium | English: New Zealand tea; manuka (New Zealand) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Licuala grandis | English: ruffled fan palm; French: palmier-cuillère | Arecaceae | tree (palm) |
Ligustrum spp. | English: privet | Oleaceae | shrubs/small trees |
Lophostemon confertus | English: brush box, Brisbane box, vinegar tree | Myrtaceae | tree |
Ludwigia peruviana | English: ludwigia, Peruvian primrose, water primrose | Onagraceae | shrub |
Maesopsis eminii | English: umbrella tree, musizi | Rhamnaceae | tree |
Medinilla magnifica | English: chandelier tree, showy melastome, showy medinilla, Malaysian orchid | Melastomataceae | shrub |
Medinilla venosa | English: holdtight | Melastomataceae | shrub |
Melaleuca quinquenervia | English: melaleuca, cajeput, paper bark tree, punk tree; Other: niaouli (New Caledonia) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Melastoma candidum | English: Asian melastome, Indian rhododendron, Malabar melastome | Melastomataceae | tree |
Melastoma sanguineum | English: fox-tongued melastoma, red melastome | Melastomataceae | shrub/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 |
Melochia umbellata | English: melochia | Sterculiaceae | tree |
Memecylon floribundum | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
Miconia calvescens | English: miconia, velvetleaf, purple plague, bush currant | Melastomataceae | tree |
Microlaena stipoides | 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 |
Montanoa hibiscifolia | English: montanoa, tree daisy, Anzac flower | Asteraceae | shrub |
Morella faya | English: fayatree, firetree, firebush | Myricaceae | tree |
Mucuna pruriens | English: cow itch, velvet bean, Bengal bean, Mauritius bean; French: pois pouilleux, poil à gratter; Other: akangkang dangkulo (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine |
Muntingia calabura | English: jam tree, strawberry tree, Jamaican cherry, Singapore cherry, Panama cherry, Panama berry, ornamental cherry, calabura, sirsen; French: bois ramier; Other: budo (Yap, Palau); manzanilla, mansanita, manzanita (Guam, CNMI), capulin (Fiji, French Polynesia) | Tiliaceae | tree |
Murraya paniculata | English: orange jessamine, satin-wood, Chinese box, Hawaiian mock orange | Rutaceae | shrub/tree |
Ochna kirkii | English: Micky Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush | Ochnaceae | shrub/tree |
Ochna serrulata | English: ochna, Mickey-Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush | Ochnaceae | shrub |
Ochroma pyramidale | English: balsa, corkwood, down tree | Bombacaceae | tree |
Ocimum gratissimum | English: wild basil, clove basil, tree basil; French: basilic, menthe gabonaise; Other: la’au sauga (Samoa) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Odontonema tubaeforme | English: fire spike, cardinal flower | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Olea europaea | English: olive; Other: ‘oliwa, ‘oliwa haole (Hawai'i) | Oleaceae | tree |
Ossaea marginata | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
Oxyspora paniculata | 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 |
Paraserianthes lophantha | English: brush wattle, plume albizia, plume acacia, stink bean | Fabaceae | shrub/tree |
Parkinsonia aculeata | English: parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, horse-bean, retama; French: arrêtenègre; Spanish: palo verde | Fabaceae | tree |
Parthenium hysterophorus | English: bitterweed, carrot grass, false ragweed, feverfew, parthenium weed, ragweed parthenium, whitetop, Santa Maria | Asteraceae | herb |
Paspalum urvillei | English: Vasey grass; French: herbe de Vasey, paspalum d'Urville | Poaceae | grass |
Passiflora alata | English: wild passion fruit, wingstem passionflower | Passifloraceae | shrub |
Passiflora caerulea | English: blue passion flower | Passifloraceae | shrub |
Passiflora coccinea | English: scarlet passion flower, red passion flower, red granadilla | Passifloraceae | shrub |
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 pulchella | English: two-lobed passion flower, wingleaf passionfruit | Passifloraceae | shrub |
Passiflora rubra | English: red passionfruit, Dutchman's laudanum | Passifloraceae | vine |
Passiflora suberosa | 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 |
Passiflora tarminiana | English: banana poka, banana passionfruit, bananadilla | Passifloraceae | vine |
Paulownia tomentosa | English: paulownia, princess-tree, Chinese empress tree, karri-tree | Scrophulariaceae | tree |
Pennisetum clandestinum | English: kikuyu grass, kikuyo | Poaceae | grass |
Pennisetum polystachion | English: mission grass, feathery pennisetum; French: queue de chat; Other: mechen katu (Chuuk), pwokso, dipw rais (Pohnpei), o tamata (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Pennisetum setaceum | English: fountain grass | Poaceae | grass |
Philadelphus karwinskyanus | English: philadelphus, evergreen mock orange, syringa | Saxifragaceae | shrub |
Phormium tenax | English: New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp, bush flax | Agavaceae | herb |
Phyllostachys nigra | English: black bamboo; French: bambou noir | Poaceae | shrub |
Pimenta dioica | English: pimento, allspice; Other: sipaisi (Tonga) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Pimenta racemosa | English: bay tree, bay rum tree, bay oil tree, malagueta; Other: sinamoni (Tonga) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Piper aduncum | English: spiked pepper; Other: yaqona ni Onolulu, yanggona ni Onolulu (Fiji) | Piperaceae | tree |
Piper auritum | 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) | Piperaceae | shrub |
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 |
Pithecellobium dulce | English: Madras thorn, Manila tamarind; French: pois sucré; Other: kamachuri (Chuuk); camachili, kamachile, kamachiles, kamachili (Guam); kamachili, kamatire (CNMI Chamorro), ghamasiligh (CNMI-Carolinian); kamatsiri, kamatsíri, opiuma (Palau): 'opiuma (Hawai'i); kataiya (Fiji) | Fabaceae | tree |
Pittosporum pentandrum | English: pittosporum, Taiwanese cheesewood, mamalis | Pittosporaceae | shrub/tree |
Pittosporum tobira | English: tobira, Japanese pittosporum, Japanese cheesewood, mock orange, Australian laurel | Pittosporaceae | shrub/tree |
Pittosporum undulatum | English: Victorian box, Victorian laurel, Australian cheesewood, mock orange, sweet pittosporum, orange pittosporum | Pittosporaceae | tree |
Pittosporum viridiflorum | English: cape pittosporum | Pittosporaceae | tree |
Platycerium bifurcatum | English: elkhorn fern, staghorn fern | Selaginellaceae | fern |
Pluchea carolinensis | English: sour bush | Asteraceae | shrub |
Pluchea indica | English: Indian fleabane, Indian pluchea, Indian camphorweed | Asteraceae | shrub |
Praxelis clematidea | English: praxelis | Asteraceae | herb |
Prosopis spp. | English: mesquite, algaroba; Spanish: algarrobo | Fabaceae | tree |
Psidium cattleianum | English: strawberry guava, cherry guava, Cattley guava, Chinese guava; French: goyavier de Chine; Other: kuahpa (Pohnpei); waiawi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai'i); ngguava (Fiji), tuava tinito (French Polynesia); kua‘va (Samoa) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Psidium guineense | English: Brazilian guava, Guinea guava; French: goyavier du Brésil | Myrtaceae | shrub/tree |
Pyrostegia venusta | English: flame vine, flame flower, golden shower, orange trumpet vine | Bignoniaceae | vine |
Ravenala madagascariensis | English: traveler’s palm, traveler’s tree, ravenale; French: arbre à voyageur | Strelitziaceae | tree |
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa | English: rose myrtle, downy myrtle, Isenberg bush | Myrtaceae | shrub |
Rhynchospora caduca | Cyperaceae | herb | |
Rivina humilis | English: baby pepper, bloodberry, coral berry, rouge plant; Other: polo (Tonga) | Phytolaccaceae | herb |
Rubus alceifolius | 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 | |
Saccharum spontaneum | 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 |
Sanchezia parvibracteata | English: sanchezia | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Sanchezia speciosa | English: sanchezia. | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Schefflera arboricola | English: dwarf brassia, dwarf schefflera, Hawaiian elf schefflera | Araliaceae | shrub |
Schinus molle | English: pepper tree, California pepper tree, Peruvian peppertree, pepperina; French: faux poivrier, molée des jardins, poivrier d'Amérique | Anacardiaceae | tree |
Schinus terebinthifolius | English: Christmas-berry, Brazilian pepper, Brazilian holly, Florida holly; French: faux poivrier, poivre rose; Other: warui (Fiji); wilelaiki (Hawai‘i), naniohilo (Hawai‘i (Moloka‘i)) | Anacardiaceae | tree |
Schizachyrium condensatum | English: little bluestem, bush beardgrass | Poaceae | grass |
Senecio madagascariensis | English: fireweed | Asteraceae | herb |
Senna obtusifolia | English: habucha, coffeeweed, sicklepod | Fabaceae | herb |
Senna septemtrionalis | English: buttercup bush, yellow shower, laburnum; Other: mosimosi, naseni karakarawa, winivinikau (Fiji); kolomona, kalamona (Hawai'i) | Fabaceae | shrub/tree |
Senna siamea | English: cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia; French: bois perdrix; Other: kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | tree |
Sesbania grandiflora | English: hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree; French: agati a grandes fleurs; Other: agati, agathi (Fiji); oufai, ofai, ouai (French Polynesia); katurai (Guam); sepania (Samoa) | Fabaceae | small tree |
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 |
Setaria palmifolia | English: palmgrass, short pitpit, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass; Other: vao ‘ofe‘ofe (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass |
Setaria pumila | English: foxtail, garden bristle 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 capsicoides | English: cockroach berry, devil’s apple, soda apple; Other: kikania kei, akaaka, akaka (Hawai'i) | Solanaceae | herb |
Solanum mauritianum | English: bugweed, wild tobacco, tree tobacco; Other: pua nana honua (Hawai'i), pula (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub |
Solanum seaforthianum | English: potato creeper, Brazilian nightshade | Solanaceae | vine |
Solanum tampicense | English: wetland nightshade, aquatic soda apple | Solanaceae | aquatic herb |
Solanum torvum | English: prickly solanum, devil's fig, turkeyberry, terongan; French: fausse aubergine, aubergine sauvage épineuse; Other: piko (Vanuatu); tisaipale (Tonga); kausoni, soni, kauvoto-votua, kaisurisuri, katai, bhankatiya, soni ni vavalagi (Fiji) | Solanaceae | shrub |
Solanum viarum | English: tropical soda apple | Solanaceae | herb? |
Sporobolus elongatus | English: wiregrass, rat-tail dropseed | Poaceae | grass |
Stapelia gigantea | English: carrion flower, starfish flower, zulu-giant, giant toad plant | Asclepiadaceae | succulent |
Syncarpia glomulifera | English: turpentine tree, lustre wood | Myrtaceae | tree |
Tabebuia heterophylla | English: pink tecoma, pink trumpet tree, white cedar; Other: calice du pape | Bignoniaceae | tree |
Terminalia myriocarpa | English: hollock, jhalna | Combretaceae | tree |
Tetrazygia bicolor | English: Florida clover ash | Melastomataceae | shrub/tree |
Thunbergia alata | English: black-eyed susan vine; French: suzanne aux yeux noirs; Other: tagamimi (Samoa) | Acanthaceae | vine |
Thunbergia grandiflora | English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: bung el etiu (Palau) | Acanthaceae | vine |
Thunbergia laurifolia | English: purple allamanda, laurel-leaved thunbergia, laurel clock vine | Acanthaceae | vine |
Tibouchina herbacea | English: glorybush, cane ti, tibouchina | Melastomataceae | herb |
Tibouchina urvilleana | English: glorybush, lasiandra, princess flower | Melastomataceae | herb |
Timonius timon | English: liberal (Palau); Other: sakosia (from Ecoport, no source given) | Rubiaceae | tree |
Toona ciliata | English: Australian red cedar, toon; Other: tuna (Samoa), sita kula (Tonga) | Meliaceae | 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 |
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 |
Tribulus terrestris | English: puncture vine, goat head; French: tribule terrestre | Zygophyllaceae | herb |
Triphasia trifolia | English: limeberry, lemon China; Other: limon-China, lemon de china, limoncito (Guam) | Rutaceae | shrub |
Triplaris weigeltiana | English: long john, long jack | Polygonaceae | tree |
Tripsacum latifolium | English: wideleaf gamagrass | Poaceae | grass |
Triumfetta semitriloba | English: Sacramento bur; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam) | Tiliaceae | shrub |
Turbina corymbosa | English: turbina, Christmas vine, ololiuqui | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Turnera ulmifolia | 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 |
Vitex parviflora | English: small-leaved vitex, smallflower chastetree; Other: lagundi (Guam); molauin, molave (Philippines); molave (Hawai'i) | Verbenaceae | shrub/tree |
Waterhousea floribunda | English: weeping lilly pilly, weeping myrtle | Myrtaceae | tree |
Zantedeschia aethiopica | English: calla lily, arum lily | Araceae | herb |
Ziziphus mauritiana | 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, including the locations where the various names are used, can be found in the individual species summaries at the PIER web site, http://www.hear.org/pier/, or on the PIER CD.
Table 2. Introduced species that are invasive elsewhere and are also invasive or potentially invasive in NiueScientific Name | Common Names | Family | Habit |
Adenanthera pavonina | English: Coral bean tree, red sandalwood tree, red bead tree, lopa, bead tree, false wiliwili, peacock flower-fence; French: bois de condori; Other: kaikes (Pohnpei); mwetkwem (Kosrae); colales, culalis, kolales, kulales, kulalis (Guam, CNMI); metekam, metkam, metkem, (Kosrae); telengtúngd, telentundalel (Palau); pomea (Fiji, Niue), lera, lere ndamu, vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi (Fiji), lopa, la‘au lopa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); paina, pitipitio (French Polynesia) | Fabaceae | tree |
Asparagus setaceus | English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa; French: asperge plumeuse; Other: taupo ‘ou (Tonga) | Liliaceae | vine |
Clerodendrum chinense | English: Honolulu rose, stickbush, glory bower; Other: losa Honolulu, losa onolulu (American Samoa and Samoa); pikake hohono, pikake wauke (Hawai'i), pitate mama (Cook Islands) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Epipremnum pinnatum cv. 'Aureum' | English: pothos, money plant; Other: yalu, wa yalu, wa lu, alu, halu, waloa, matha, nanggalanggala, nanggalinggali, tonga, tanga (Fiji); alu (Tonga) | Araceae | vine |
Falcataria moluccana | English: Molucca albizia; Other: tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); tuhke kerosene, tuhkehn karisihn (Pohnpei); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); tamaligi uliuli (Samoa) | Fabaceae | tree |
Hemigraphis alternata | English: metal leaf; red ivy, cemetery plant (Fiji) | Acanthaceae | herb |
Lonicera japonica | English: Japanese honeysuckle, Hall’s honeysuckle; Other: honekakala (Hawai'i) | Caprifoliaceae | vine |
Macfadyena unguis-cati | English: cat's-claw climber | Bignoniaceae | vine |
Melinis minutiflora | English: melinis, molasses grass; French: herbe molasses, herbe à miel; Other: puakatau (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Merremia tuberosa | English: wood rose, Spanish arborvine, yellow morning-glory; French: liane-à-tonelle, liane-jaune; Other: pilikai (Hawai'i) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Mikania micrantha | English: mile-a-minute weed, Chinese creeper, American rope, bittervine; French: liane américaine, liane-serpent; Other: fue saina (American Samoa, Samoa and Niue); fou laina (Niue), teb ‘l yas (Palau); wa mbosuthu, wa mbosuvu, wa mbutako, wa ndamele, ovaova, wa bosucu, usuvanua (Fiji); kwalo koburu, (from Ecoport, no source given) | Asteraceae | vine |
Mimosa diplotricha | English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; French: grande sensitive, sensitive gèante; Other: singbiguin sasa (Saipan); mechiuaiuu (Palau); limemeihr laud (Pohnpei); vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa), la'au fefe tele, la'au fefe palagi (Samoa); wa ngandrongandro levu, wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu, co gadrogadro (Fiji) | Fabaceae | shrub |
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: bokso (Palau); puk-soh (Pohnpei); acfucsracsracsr (Kosrae). | Poaceae | grass |
Sorghum sudanense | English: Sudan grass; French: sorgho du Soudan, sorgho menu; Other: kola (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Spathodea campanulata | English: African tulip tree, fireball, fountain tree; French: tulipier du Gabon, pisse-pisse; Spanish: tulipan africano; Other: apär (CNMI); rarningobchey (Yap); orsachel kui (Palau); tuhke dulip (Pohnpei); tiulipe (Tonga), taga mimi (Fiji) | Bignoniaceae | tree |
Spagneticola trilobata | English: wedelia, trailing daisy, Singapore daisy, creeping ox-eye; Other: ngesil ra ngebard (Palau); dihpw ongohng, tuhke ongohng (Pohnpei); rosrangrang (Kosrae); ut mõkadkad, ut telia (Marshall Islands); atiat (Puluwat); ate (Tonga) | Asteraceae | herb |
Stachytarpheta cayennensis | English: blue rat's tail, dark-blue snakeweed, false verbena, nettleleaf velvetberry; French: herbe bleue; Other: ouchung, sakura (Chuuk), louch beluu (Palau); mautofu tala, mautofu vao, matofu fualanumanoa (American Samoa and Samoa); te uti (Kiribati); mautofu Samoa, motofu Samoa (Niue); hiku ‘i kuma, hiku‘kuma, ‘iku ‘i kuma, iku ‘ikuma (Tonga); turulakaka, tumbutumbu, serakawa, lavenia, se karakarawa (Fiji) | Verbenaceae | herb |
Syngonium angustatum | English: arrowhead plant, goosefoot plant | Araceae | vine |
Tithonia diversifolia | English: tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower; Other: matala (Niue) | Asteraceae | shrub |
Tradescantia spathacea | English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat; Other: talotalo, laupapaki (Niue) | Commelinaceae | herb |
Tradescantia zebrina | English: wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant | Commelinaceae | herb |
Table 3. Species that are reported as invasive or weedy elsewhere and are common or weedy in Niue
Scientific Name | Common Names | Family | Habit |
Abelmoschus moschatus | English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; French: ambrette, gombo musqué, ketmie musquée, graine de musc; Other: kamang, ka‘mang (Guam); karereon, karereon nikapwerik nik, kareron, likonokon (Chuuk); gongul (Palau); metei, mety, methey (Pohnpei); hathongethong, kamwayang, nikapwerik, setmwechin, sotumo (Yap); wakiwaki, wakewake, wakeke, vakeke, aukiki, okeoke, o‘e‘e (Fiji); fou ingo (Niue), fau ingo (Wallis and Futuna); ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa); loa, fau‘ingo (Tonga) | Malvaceae | herb |
Aleurites moluccana | English: candlenut, Indian walnut; French: bancoulier, bancoulier, noyer de bancoul, noyer des Moluques; Other: lumbang (Guam), raguar (Caroline Islands); sakan, shakan (Pohnpei); lama (American Samoa and Samoa); kukui (Hawai’i); tuitui (Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga), 'ama (Marquesas); lauci, lauthe, lauthi, toto, tuitui, tutui, waiwai, sekeci,sikethi, sikeli, nggerenggere (Fiji); tahii tiairi, ti’a’iri, tutui, tahiri (French Polynesia) | Euphorbiaceae | tree |
Allamanda cathartica | English: yellow trumpet vine, golden trumpet, allamanda, brownbud allamanda, golden allamanda, golden cup; French: monette jaune, li’ane s’aime; Other: pua taunofo (American Samoa and Samoa), lani-ali‘i (Hawai‘i) | Apocynaceae | shrub |
Alpinia purpurata | English: red ginger; Other: 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: kasoi (Guam), ‘apu ‘initia (Samoa); kesiu (Tonga) | Anacardiaceae | tree |
Annona muricata | English: soursop, prickly custard apple; French: corossolier, cacheimantier épineux, cachiman épineux, corossol épineux; Other: 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: atis, ates (Guam); ngel ra ngebard (Palau), ‘apele papalangi, ‘apele Tonga (Tonga), tapotapo (French Polynesia) | Annonaceae | tree |
Anredera cordifolia | English: Madeira vine, mignonette vine, lamb's tails; Other: ‘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 |
Asystasia gangetica | English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel | Acanthaceae | herb |
Axonopus fissifolius | English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass | Poaceae | grass |
Bambusa spp. | English: bamboo; French: bambou; Other: moor (Yap); iich (Chuuk); pehri en sapahn (Pohnpei); bambuu (Palau); bambu (Kosrae); pi‘ao, pi‘ao palaoan (Guam and Northern Marianas-Chamorro); bwai (Guam and Northern Marianas-Carolinian); bae, koba (Marshall Islands); kaho palangi (Niue); ‘ohe (French Polynesia); ofe (French Polynesia, Samoa), ‘ofe fiti, ‘ofe papalagi (Samoa); kofe, pitu (Tonga); koe (Rarotonga, Cook Islands) | Poaceae | tree |
Barleria prionitis | English: barleria, porcupine flower | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Bauhinia monandra | English: orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon's plume; flamboyant (Pohnpei), flores mariposa (CNMI); mariposa (Guam); pink butterfly tree (Fiji); Other: pine fua loloa (Niue), vae povi (American Samoa and Samoa) | Fabaceae | tree |
Bothriochloa bladhii | English: blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem; Other: desum (Palau); latoka grass, thamboni grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Breynia disticha | English: snowbush, snowbush breynia, sweetpea bush, foliage-flower | Euphorbiaceae | shrub |
Bryophyllum pinnatum | English: life plant, air plant, resurrection plant, Canterbury bells, cathedral bells, Mexican love plant; Spanish: hoja del aire; Other: bulatawamudu (Fiji); ‘oliwa ku kahakai (Hawai'i); teang (Kiribati); kibilia (Marshall Islands); tupu he lau, tupu noa (Niue); pipi vao (Tonga) | Crassulaceae | herb |
Calopogonium mucunoides | English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine |
Calotropis gigantea | English: calotrope, crown flower, bowstring hemp, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai'i); tahinu (French Polynesia) | Ascelepiadaceae | shrub |
Cananga odorata | English: perfume tree; French: canang odorant; Other: ilang-ilang, alang-ilang (Guam, Philippines); ylang-ylang, lengileng (CNMI); chiráng, irang (Palau); ilanlang, ilahnglahng (Kosrae); pwanang, pwuur, pwalang (Chuuk); pur-n-wai, pwurenwai, sair-n-wai, seirin wai, seir en wai (Pohnpei); ilanilan, ilañlañ (Marshall Islands); motoi (Niue); makasoi, makosoi, makusui, mokohoi, mokosoi (Fiji); moso‘oi (American Samoa and Samoa); mohoki, mohokoi, mohokoi (Tonga); moto‘oi, mata‘oi (Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti); moto‘i (Tahiti); lanalana (Hawai‘i) | Annonaceae | tree |
Canna indica | English: canna, canna lily, Indian shot; French: balisier comestible, tous-les-mois; Other: mongos halum-tano (Guam); luiuenwai (Pohnpei); apeellap, oruuru (Puluwat); fanamanu, fagamanu, fa‘i masoa (American Samoa and Samoa); gasau ni ga (Fiji); te riti (Kiribati), misimisi (Tonga); fagafaga (Futuna); ali‘ipoe, li'ipoe, poloka (Hawai'i); pia-raroto‘a (French Polynesia) | Cannaceae | herb |
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 |
Casuarina equisetifolia | English: casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; French: arbe de fer; Spanish: arbol de hierro; Other: nach (Yap); lach (Ulithi); laash (Woleai); weeku (Chuuk); gagu, gago (Guam, CNMI); weighu (CNMI-Carolinian); pientri (pinetree), nidil, bû ukam (bluegum on some atolls), nidõ (needle" on some atolls) mejinoki (Marshall Islands); toa (American Samoa, French Polynesia, Hawai‘i, Niue, Samoa and Tonga); ‘aito (French Polynesia); nokonoko, nakure, qaro (Fiji); te katurina (from Ecoport, source not given) | Casuarinaceae | tree |
Ceiba pentandra | English: kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, pacae; French: kapokier, capoc, bois coton; Spanish: ceibo; Other: koton (Chuuk); algodon de Manila, atgodon di Manila, algidon, atgidon de Manila (Guam); koatoa, atagodon, arughuschel (Saipan), batte ni gan' ken (Yap); bulik, kotin (Marshall Islands); cottin, koatun, koatoa (Pohnpei); kuhtin, cutin (Kosrae); kalngebard, kalngebárd, kerrekar ngebard (Palau); vauvau ni vavalangi, semar (Fiji); vavae (American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Tonga); vavau ni lokoloko (from Ecoport, source not given) | Bombacaceae | tree |
Cenchrus ciliaris | English: buffelgrass, African foxtail grass, anjan grass; French: cenchrus cilié | Poaceae | grass |
Cenchrus echinatus | English: burgrass, sand-bur, southern sandbur, Mossman River grass (Australia); French: herbe a cateaux (Mauritius); Other: tuitui, vao tuitui, vao papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa); se mbulabula (Fiji); piri-piri, pipiri (French Polynesia); mau‘u kuku, ‘ume‘alu (Hawai'i); te anti, te kateketeke (Kiribati); cram-cram (New Caledonia); motie vihilago, mosie vihilango (Niue); lõklõk, kãlõklõk, lellik, lekelik, liklik, karmwijmwij, karumwij (Marshall Islands); cauit-cauitan (Philippines); hefa (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Centrosema pubescens | English: centro, butterfly-pea; French: fleur-languette, pois bâtard; Other: pi ni ndola (Fiji) | Fabaceae | herb |
Cestrum nocturnum | English: night-flowering cestrum, night-flowering jasmine, queen (or lady) of the night; Other: teine o le po, ali‘i o le po (American Samoa and Samoa); thauthau, thauthau ni mbongi, kara (Fiji); dama-de-noche (Guam); ‘ala aumoe, kupaoa, onaona Iapana (Hawai‘i); joñoul ru awa (Marshall Islands); iki he po (Niue); lakau po‘uli (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub |
Chamaecrista nictitans | English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna; Other: lauki (Hawai‘i); kobo-cha, nemu-cha (Japan) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Chloris barbata | English: swollen fingergrass, purpletop chloris (Australia), airport grass (Fiji); Other: mau’u lei (Hawai'i) | Poaceae | grass |
Chrysopogon aciculatus | English: Mackie's pest, lovegrass, seed grass, golden beardgrass, seedy grass (Solomon Islands); French: herbe plate, herbe à piquant; Other: 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 |
Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax | English: red clerodendrum, pagoda-flower; Other: talufe (Niue); amo’ula, amo’ule (Tonga), lau'awa (Hawai'i) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Coffea arabica | English: coffee; French: café, caféier d’ Arabie; Spanish: café, cafeto; Other: 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: semprebiban-damalong (Guam); honohono (Hawai‘i); mau‘utoga, mau‘u Tonga (American Samoa and Samoa); mohuku vai, musie matala pulu (Tonga); ai rorongi, ai rongorongo, airogorogo, cobulabula, rongomatailevu, thombulambula, matembulambula, drano,duludauwere, ndrano, ndulandauwere, luna, tho nggalonggalo (Fiji), ma‘apape (French Polynesia) | Commelinaceae | herb |
Costus speciosus | English: crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed; Other: isebsab (Palau) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Crassocephalum crepidoides | English: thickhead, fireweed, redflower ragleaf; Other: fua lele, pualele (American Samoa and Samoa); maraburubo (Solomon Islands); fisi puna (Tonga); se vuka (Fiji) | Asteraceae | herb |
Crotalaria micans | English: crotalaria; Other: pine kotalelia, pile (Niue) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Cuscuta campestris | English: golden dodder, field dodder, five-angled dodder; Other: 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: manini, manienie (Hawai'i); motie molulu (Niue); kambuta, kabuta (Fiji); mosie molulu (Niue); herbe de couverture (New Caledonia); pasto bermuda, zacate bermuda, grama dulce, gramón, hierba fina, grama-seda, (from Ecoport, no source given) | Poaceae | grass |
Cyperus involucratus | English: umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass; Other: ‘ahu‘awa haole, pu‘uka‘a haole (Hawai‘i) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Cyperus rotundus | English: nut grass, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, cocograss; French: souchet rond, souchet à tubercules, herbe à oignon; Other: oni ani (Cook Islands); soro na kambani, sora na kambani, soro ni kabani, ivako, malanga, vucesa, motha, vuthesa mot ha (Fiji); chaguan humatag (Guam); kili'o'opu, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); te mumute (Kiribati); tuteoneon (Marshall Islands); mumuta (Samoa, Tokelau); pakopako (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Delonix regia | English: flame tree, flamboyant, poinciana; Spanish: flamboyan; Other: ngatipa, avarua (Rarotonga, Cook Islands); fayarbaw (CNMI–Carolinian); sekoula (Fiji); puke (Tahiti, French Polynesia); arbol del fuego, atbot, atbot det fuegu, atbut (Guam and CNMI–Chamorro); ‘ohai ‘ula (Hawai'i); pine (Niue); nangiosákura, nangyo (Palau); pilampwoia weitahta (Pohnpei); ‘ohai (Tonga); sakuranirow (Yap) | Fabaceae | tree |
Derris malaccensis | English: New Guinea creeper; Other: ‘ava niukini (American Samoa); nduva, tuva, nduva ni niukini (Fiji); akau niukini (Niue); fue fa‘i ‘ava (Samoa); kava fisi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
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 |
Elaeis guineensis | English: African oil palm; French: palmier à huile d'Afrique; Other: apwiraiasi (Pohnpei) | Arecaceae | tree |
Eleusine indica | English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow's foot, bullgrass; French: pied de poule; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); kavoronaisivi, vorovoroisivi, ghoraya (Fiji); tamamau (French Polynesia), umog (Guam); manienie ali‘i (Hawai'i); mahkwekwe (Kosrae); katejukjuk (Marshall Islands); mosie fahitalo (Niue); deskim, keteketarmalk (Palau); reh takai (Pohnpei); takataka, takataka ‘a leala, mohuku siamane (Tonga); te uteute (from Ecoport, source not given) | Poaceae | grass |
Eugenia uniflora | English: Surinam cherry, red Brazil cherry; French: cerisier carré, cerisier de Cayenne; Other: kafika, kafika palangi (Niue), pitanga (Brazil) | Myrtaceae | shrub/tree |
Ficus elastica | English: India rubber tree, rubber plant; Other: komunoki, komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak'iynigoma (Yap) | Moraceae | tree |
Furcraea foetida | English: Mauritius hemp, sisal, maguey, giant cabuya; French: aloès vert, chanvre de Maurice; Other: malina (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)); toua (Niue); lautalotalo papalagi (Samoa); faumalila, fau malila (Tonga) | Agavaceae | succulent |
Gliricidia sepium | English: mother of cacao, quickstick; Spanish: madre de cacao | Fabaceae | 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 flavescens | English: yellow ginger, cream ginger; French: longoze; Other: opuhi rea rea (French Polynesia); ‘awapuhi melemele (Hawai'i), teuila (Samoa) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Heliconia spp. | English: heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw | Heliconiaceae | 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; Other: mumutun lahe, mumutun palaoan, mumutan ademelon (Guam); tamole ni veikau, tamoli ni vavalangi, timothi ni vavalangi, wavuwavu, ndamoli, ben tulsia (Fiji) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Indigofera suffruticosa | English: indigo; Other: aniles (Guam); ‘iniko, inikoa, kolu (Hawai'i); la‘au mageso (Samoa); ‘akau veli (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Kyllinga brevifolia | English: green kyllinga, green water sedge; Other: kili‘o‘opu, kaluha, manunene, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); tuise (Samoa); pakopako (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Kyllinga nemoralis | English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other: kili‘o‘opu (Hawai‘i), ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a vili taliga, matie upo‘o, matie tahiti, mo‘u upo‘onui, mo‘u upo‘o, tuise (Samoa); pakopako, pakopako ‘ae kuma (Tahiti); tuise (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Kyllinga polyphylla | English: Navua sedge; Other: tuise tele, tuise fiti (Samoa) | 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); papapa, pi (Hawai'i); pini lae puaka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
Lantana camara | English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa); taramoa (Cook Islands); kauboica, kaumboitha, mbonambulumakau, mbona ra mbulumakau, tokalau, waiwai, lanitana (Fiji); taratara hamoa, taratara moa (French Polynesia); latora moa, tatara moa (French Polynesia (Tahiti)); lakana, la‘au kalakala, lanakana (Ni‘ihau), mikinolia hihiu, mikinolia hohono, mikinolia kuku (Hawai'i); ros fonacni (Kosrae); te kaibuaka, te kaibuaja (Kiribati); migiroa (Nauru), landana, rantana, rahndana, tukasuweth (Pohnpei); talatala, talatala talmoa (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Leonurus japonicus | English: lion’s tail, Chinese motherwort | Lamiaceae | herb |
Leucaena leucocephala | English: leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree; French: graines de lin, faux-acacia, faux mimosa (New Caledonia); Other: koa haole, lili-koa, ekoa (Hawai'i); tangantangan, tangan-tangan, talantayan (Guam, CNMI, Marshall Islands); talntangan (CNMI); ganitnityuwan tangantan (Yap); tuhngantuhngan, rohbohtin (Kosrae); telentund (Palau); lopa Samoa (American Samoa and Samoa); fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa); lusina (Samoa); pepe (Niue and Samoa); tavahi kaku (Niue); nito, toromiro (Cook Islands); siale mohemohe (Tonga); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai dina, balori (Fiji); atiku (Marquesas); cassis (Vanuatu); te kaitetua (Kiribati); namas (from Ecoport, source not given) | Fabaceae | tree |
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: dake, bakain (Fiji), paraiso, para'isu (Guam); ‘inia, ‘ilinia (Hawai‘i)sili, tili (Niue); lelah (Pohnpei); sita (Tonga); prais (Yap) | Meliaceae | tree |
Mimosa pudica | English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; French: sensitive; Other: la‘au fefe, vao fefe, vao tuitui, tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa); ra kau pikikaa, rakau pikika (Cook Islands); tho ngandrongandro, tho kandrodandro, cogadrogadro (Fiji); betguen sosa (Guam); pua hilahila (Hawai‘i); memege (Niue); mechiuaiu (Palau); limemeihr (Pohnpei); pohe ha‘avare, pope ha‘avare (Tahiti); mateloi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Momordica charantia | English: balsam-apple, bitter-melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, squirting cucumber, cerasee, peria; French: momordique, margose (Réunion, Mauritius Islands), margose amère, momordique amère, concombre amer, concombre africain; Spanish: achoccha silvestre; Other: almagosa, atmagosu (Guam); atmagoso (Guam, CNMI); markoso (Palau); kerala (Fiji); meleni 'ae kuma, vaine 'initia (Tonga) | Cucurbitaceae | vine |
Moringa oleifera | English: horseradish tree, drumstick tree, ben nut, morango; French: ben ailée, moringa ailée, pois quénique; Other: malungkai, marronggai, marungai, marunggai, malungay, katdes (Guam); sajina (Fiji) | Moringaceae | tree |
Neonotonia wightii | English: glycine; French: soja pérenne | Fabaceae | vine |
Operculina ventricosa | English: paper rose, St. Thomas lidpod; Other: alalag (Guam); palulu (Samoa); fue hina (Tonga) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Panicum maximum | English: Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss; French: herbe de Guinéa, panic élevé, capime guiné, fataque; Other: saafa (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum conjugatum | English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); French: herbe sure, herbe créole; herbe de tauère (New Caledonia); Other: fetin wumwune (Chuuk); mau‘u Hilo (Hawai‘i), muhsrasre (Kosrae); moise vailima, motie vailima (Niue and Tonga); udel ra ngebei (Palau); rehn wai (Pohnpei); vao lima (American Samoa and Samoa), vailima matafao (Samoa); vailima, (Samoa, Tonga, Niue) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum dilatatum | English: paspalum, dallis grass, water grass; French: paspalum dilaté, herbe sirop, herbe de miel, herbe de dallis, millet bâtard; Other: hiku nua (Niue) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum fimbriatum | English: fimbriate paspalum, winged paspalum, Panama paspalum, Panama crowngrass, Columbia grass | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum paniculatum | English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum scrobiculatum | English: rice grass; ditch millet (Fiji); Other: co duru levu, tho nduru levu, tho ndina, tho ni ndina (Fiji); karasi (Solomon Islands) | Poaceae | grass |
Passiflora edulis | English: passion fruit, yellow passion fruit, purple passion fruit, qarandila, purple granadilla; French: grenadille; Spanish: maracuya (Galapagos Is.); Other: 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 (Samoa); vaine 'ae kuma (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Passiflora maliformis | English: hard-shelled passionfruit, sweet calabash, sweet cup; French: pomme calabas; Other: pasio (Samoa), vaine Tonga, vaine kai (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Passiflora quadrangularis | English: granadilla, giant granadilla; French: barbadine; Spanish: badea (Galapagos Is.); Other: parapotina maata (Cook Islands); para pautini (French Polynesia); palasini, palatini, vine fua lalahi, vine palasini, tinitini (Niue); kudamono (Palau); pasio (Samoa); pasione (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine |
Persea americana | English: avocado, alligator pear; French: l’avocat; Spanish: aguacate; Other: apoka (Cook Islands); pea (Fiji); avoka (Niue, Tonga); aviota (Samoa); avota (Samoa and Tahiti); bata (Palau); alageta (Chamorro, Guam) | Lauraceae | tree |
Pinus caribaea | English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina (Samoa), paini (Tonga) | Pinaceae | 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 |
Psidium guajava | English: guava; French: goyavier; Spanish: guayaba, guayabo; Other: ku‘ava, ku‘avu, tu‘avu (American Samoa and Samoa); kuafa (Chuuk); kuava (Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa); quwawa, nguava, ngguava ni India, amrut (Fiji); tuava, tumu tuava, tuvava (French Polynesia); abas guayaba (Galapagos); (Guam, Saipan-Chamorro, Yap); kuawa, kuawa ke‘oke‘o, kuawa lemi, kuawa momona, pauwa (Hawai‘i); kuhfahfah (Kosrae); te kuawa (Kiribati); kuwawa (Nauru); kautoga, kautonga, kautoga tane, kautonga tane (Niue); guabang, kuabang (Palau); guahva, kuahpa (Pohnpei); apas (Saipan); abwas (Saipan-Carolinian); tu‘ava (Samoa) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Pueraria montana var. lobata | English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: deday (Yap); aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna); a'a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue’aepuaka (Tonga); acha, nepalem | Fabaceae | vine |
Pueraria phaseoloides | English: tropical kudzu, puero | Fabaceae | 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); mbele ni vavalagi, toto ni vavalagi, utouto (Fiji); agaliya (Guam); koli, pa‘aila, ka‘apeha, kamakou, la‘au, ‘aila (Hawai‘i); tuitui, tuitui fua ikiiki (Niue); gelug, maskerekur, uluchula skoki (Palau); lepo, lepohina (Tonga) | Euphorbiaceae | shrub |
Ruellia prostrata | English: black weed, bell weed; Other: vao uli, vao uliuli (Samoa) | Acanthaceae | herb |
Samanea saman | English: monkeypod, rain tree, saman; French: arbre de pluie; Other: tronkon mames, trongkon-mames (CNMI-Chamorro); filinganga (CNMI-Carolinian); gumor ni spanis (Yap); 'ohai, pu ‘ohai (Hawai'i); vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai ni vavalagi (Fiji), malapa (Samoa); kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | tree |
Sambucus mexicana | English: elderberry, Mexican elder | Caprifoliaceae | small tree |
Sansevieria trifasciata | English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue; French: chanvre d'Afrique; Other: tigre (Guam), kitelel (Palau) | Agavaceae | herb |
Schefflera actinophylla | English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm; French: arbre ombelle | Araliaceae | tree |
Senna alata | English: candle bush; candelabra bush, Roman candle tree, emperor's candlesticks, ringworm bush (Australia), alcapulco; French: epis d’or, bois dartre, dartres; Other: arakak (Chuuk); akapuku, andadose, candalaria, take-biha (Guam); kerula besokel, yult (Palau); rakau honuki, truke-n-kili-n-wai, tuhkehn kilin wai, tirakahonuki (Pohnpei); flay-n-sabouw (Yap); mulamula (Niue); bakau plant (Solomon Islands); mbai ni thangi (Fiji); fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); te‘elango (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Senna tora | English: foetid cassia, stinking cassia, Java-bean, sickle senna, sicklepod, Chinese senna, peanut weed, sickle senna; French: cassier sauvage, pois puant, séné; Other: kaumoce, kaumothe, pini, tarota (Fiji); mumutun admelon, mumutun palaoan, amot-tumaga carabao (Guam), vao pinati (Samoa); te’epulu, tengafefeka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Solenostemon scutellarioides | English: coleus; Other: lata, lau lata (Fiji); weleweka (Hawai‘i); selevese (Niue); koramahd, koaramahd (Pohnpei); pate, patiale, la‘au fai sei (Samoa) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Sorghum halepense | English: Johnson grass, Aleppo grass, Aleppo milletgrass; French: sorgho d' Alep, sorgo de Alepo, herbe de Cuba; Other: kola (Tonga); gumai (Russia); zacate Johnson, grama China, cañuela, Don Carlos | Poaceae | grass |
Sporobolus indicus | English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Stylosanthes guianensis | English: stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo | Fabaceae | herb |
Syzygium cumini | English: Java plum; jambolan plum; French: faux-pistachier, jamelon-guier, jamélongue, jambolanier; Other: 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, pommier rose; Spanish: pomarrosa; Other: kavika, kavika ni vavalangi, kavika ni India (Fiji), ahi‘a popa‘a (French Polynesia), ‘ohi‘a loke (Hawai‘i); iouen wai, youenwai, apel en wai (Pohnpei); seasea papalagi (Samoa); fekika papalangi (Tonga) | Myrtaceae | tree |
Tecoma stans | English: yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush; Other: peeal (Puluwat), piti (French Polynesia, Tonga) | Bignoniaceae | small tree |
Thevetia peruviana | English: yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut; French: oléandre jaune; Other: koneta (Chuuk); nohomalie (Hawai'i); irelepsech (Yap) | Apocynaceae | small tree |
Thunbergia fragrans | English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine; Other: fue hina (Tonga) | Acanthaceae | vine |
Tillandsia usneoides | English: Spanish moss, old man's beard, grandfather’s whiskers, air plant; French: cheveaux du roi, barbe grise, fille de l'air | Bromeliaceae | bromeliad |
Triumfetta rhomboidea | English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam); mo‘osipo (Tonga); mosipo (Niue); manutofu, mautofu, mautofu vao (American Samoa and Samoa); qatima (Fiji), urio (French Polynesia) | Tiliaceae | shrub |
Urena lobata | English: hibiscus burr, aramina, caesarweed, pink Chinese burr, urena burr, bur mallow; French: jute africain, cousin urène; Other: dadangsi, dadangsi apaka, dadangsi machingat, dádangse (Guam); chosuched e kui, osuched a rechui (Palau); karap, korop (Pohnpei); nognuk, ocher (Chuuk); motipo, mosipo (Niue); mautofu, manutofu (American Samoa and Samoa); qatima, gataya, nggatima (Fiji); mo'osipo Tonga (Tonga), piripiri (French Polynesia) | Malvaceae | shrub |
Urochloa mutica | English: California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass; French: herbe de Para; Other: puakatau (Tonga) (Swarbrick, 1997) | Poaceae | grass |
Urochloa subquadripara | English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass | Poaceae | grass |
*Cultivated
Table 4. Native and naturalized species that exhibit aggressive behaviorScientific Name | Common Names | Family | Habit |
Merremia peltata | English: merremia; Other: wachathal (yap); lohl, iol, yol (Pohnpei); kebeas (Palau); lagon, lagun (Guam); fitau, fitaw (Chuuk); pala, pul, puhlah (Kosrae); fue, fue vao, fue kula (Niue); fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa); fue mea (Tonga); abui, grobihi, arosumou (Solomon Islands); wa mbula, wa bula, wa damu, wa ndamu, viliyawa, wiliviwa, veliyana, wiliao (Fiji); pohue (French Polynesia) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
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This page updated 15 December 2001.