Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Report on invasive plant species in Samoa
Appendix 1. Invasive species of environmental concern
Table 1.
Species that are invasive elsewhere in similar ecosystems but are not known to
be present in Samoa
Table 2. Introduced species that are
invasive or potentially invasive in Samoa
Table 3. Species that are reported as
invasive or weedy elsewhere and are common, weedy or cultivated in
Samoa
Table 4. Native species (or Polynesian
introductions) that can exhibit aggressive behavior
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Acacia aulacocarpa | English: brown salwood, brush ironbark wattle, hickory wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands) | Fabaceae | tree |
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 crassicarpa | English: northern wattle, Papua New Guinea red wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands) | Fabaceae | tree |
English: Ellington curse, klu, sweet acacia; French: acacia jaune, cassie; Other: titima (Cook Islands); vaivai vaka-vatona, vaivai vakavotona, ban baburi, oki (Fiji); aroma, popinac, kandaroma (Guam, CNMI); kolu (Hawai'i); te kaibakoa (Kiribati); debena (Nauru) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Acacia glauca | English: redwood; French: amourette | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia longifolia | English: Sydney golden wattle, golden wattle, long-leaved wattle, long-leaved acacia, sallow wattle, coast wattle, golden rods | Fabaceae | tree |
English: black wattle; French: acacia noir; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands) | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: Australian blackwood, blackwood acacia | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: prickly acacia, black thorn, Egyptian thorn, Nile acacia, algaroba, babul, gum arabic tree; French: acacia à gomme; Spanish: algarrobo; Other: tiare (New Caledonia) | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: acacia | Fabaceae | shrubs/trees | |
English: sisal, sisal hemp; Other: ndali, natali (Fiji), malina (Hawai'i) | Agavaceae | herb | |
Ageratina riparia | English: spreading mistflower, creeping croftonweed, river eupatorium; Other: hamakua pamakani (Hawai‘i) | Asteraceae | shrub |
English: tree of heaven, varnishtree | Simaroubaceae | tree | |
Albizia lebbeck | English: siris-tree, rain tree, East Indian walnut, kokko, woman's-tongue tree, soros-tree, raom tree; French: bois noir; Other: ‘arapitia (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); trongkon-mames, tronkon mames, mamis (Guam); kalaskas, trongkon-kalaskas (CNMI–Chamorro); schepil kalaskas (CNMI–Carolinian); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); gumorningabchey; ngumorrningobchey (Yap); 'ohai (Hawai‘i); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai ni vavalagi (Fiji); tamaligi pa’epa’e (Samoa); kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | tree |
Alstonia macrophylla | English: devil-tree | Apocynaceae | tree |
Alternanthera philoxeroides | English: alligator weed | Amaranthaceae | herb |
English: gamba grass, tambuki grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: bush beardgrass, bushy bluestem | Poaceae | grass | |
English: broomsedge, yellow bluestem, whisky grass | Poaceae | grass | |
Annona glabra | English: pond apple, alligator apple, bullock's heart, cherimoyer; French: annone des marais, corossolier des marais; Other: uto ni mbulumakau, uto ni bulumakau, kaitambo, kaitambu (Fiji) | Annonaceae | tree |
Annona 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 |
English: moth plant, moth catcher, white bladder flower | Asclepiadaceae | shrub | |
English: hen's eyes, Hilo holly, coral berry, Australian holly, scratchthroat; French: arbre à noël | Myrsinaceae | shrub | |
English: elephant creeper, Hawaiian baby woodrose , silver morning glory, woolly morning glory; French: coup d'air, liane a minguet, liane d' argent | Convolvulaceae | vine | |
English: Dutchman's pipe, calico flower; Other: mokorā (Cook Islands); fue paipa holani (Tonga) | Aristolochiaceae | vine | |
Arthrostemma ciliatum | English: arthrostemma, everblooming eavender | Melastomataceae | herb |
Austroeupatorium inulaefolium | Asteraceae | herb | |
Azadirachta indica | English: neem, nim, margosa | Meliaceae | tree |
Azolla pinnata | English: mosquito fern, ferny azolla, water velvet | Azollaceae | fern |
English: hophead, Philippine violet | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
English: barleria, porcupine flower | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
Blainvillea gayana | Asteraceae | herb | |
Bocconia frutescens | English: bocconia, plume-poppy, tree poppy, tree celandine, parrotweed | Papaveraceae | shrub |
Boerhavia coccinea | English: boerhavia, hog weed, hog feed, red spiderling, wineflower, tar vine; Other: mata pavo, patagon | Nyctaginaceae | herb |
Brillantaisia lamium | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
Bryophyllum pinnatum | English: life plant, air plant, resurrection plant, Canterbury bells, cathedral bells, Mexican love plant; Spanish: hoja del aire; Other: ngāngā‘ere toka (Cook Islands); bulatawamudu (Fiji); ‘oliwa ku kahakai (Hawai'i); teang (Kiribati); kibilia (Marshall Islands); tupu he lau, tupu noa (Niue); pagi (Samoa); pipi vao (Tonga) | Crassulaceae | herb |
English: dog tail; Other: huelo ‘ilio (Hawai'i) | Scrophulariaceae | shrub | |
English: orange eye, butterfly bush, summer lilac | Scrophulariaceae | shrub | |
English: butterfly bush, smoke bush | Scrophulariaceae | shrub | |
English: cat's claw, Mysore thorn, Mauritius thorn, wait-a-bit; French: bois sappan; Other: puakelekino (Hawai'i) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
English: rattan; Other: rotan, bejuko-n-halumtano, rotan bejuro-n-halumtan (Guam); bangerenguis ra ngebard (Palau) | Arecaceae | shrub (palm) | |
Calliandra haematocephala | English: red powder puff; French: pompon | Fabaceae | shrub |
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 |
English: balloon vine; heart seed; Other: kopūpū takaviri? (Cook Islands) | Sapindaceae | vine | |
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 | |
Carpobrotus edulis | English: ice plant, pigface, hottentot fig | Aizoaceae | succulent |
English: swamp oak, saltmarsh ironwood, longleaf ironwood, gray sheoak | Casuarinaceae | tree | |
English: trumpet tree, guarumo; Other: rau-māniota (Cook Islands) | Cecropiaceae | tree | |
Cecropia peltata | English: trumpet tree; French: parasolier, faux-ricin, pisse-roux, bois cannon | Cecropiaceae | tree |
English: burgrass, burr grass, sand-bur, slimbristle sandbur | Poaceae | grass | |
English: buffelgrass, African foxtail grass, anjan grass; French: cenchrus cilié | Poaceae | grass | |
Cestrum diurnum | English: inkberry, day jessamine, day cestrum, China berry; Other: ariki-va‘ine (Cook Islands); thauthau (Fiji); tinta ‘n-China, tentanchinu, tintan China (Guam, CNMI); makahala (Hawai'i); sugi vao, suni vao (Samoa); vaitohi (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub |
Cestrum parqui | English: green cestrum, willow-leaved jessamine, Chilean cestrum, green poison-berry | Solanaceae | shrub |
English: plush-grass, radiate fingergrass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: Siam weed, triffid weed, bitter bush, Jack in the bush; French: herbe du Laos; Other: kesengesil, masigsig (Guam); otuot (Chuuk), ngesngesil (Palau); wisolmatenrehwei (Pohnpei); mahsrihsrihk (Kosrae); hagonoy, agonoi, huluhagonoi (Philippines) | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: coco plum, icaco; French: prunier coton, icacier, icaquier, icaque, prune colon; Other: apolo (Fiji) | Chrysobalanaceae | shrub | |
English: satin leaf, wild star-apple, damson plum; Spanish: caimitillo | Sapotaceae | tree | |
English: quinine tree, red cinchona; French: quinquina rouge; Spanish: cascarilla | Rubiaceae | tree | |
English: padang cassia; French: cannelier de Malaisie | Lauraceae | tree | |
Cinnamomum camphora | English: camphor tree, camphor laurel; French: camphre, camphrier | 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 |
English: juniper berry | Verbenaceae | tree | |
English: fiddlewood; Other: masese (Fiji) | Verbenaceae | tree | |
Clausena excavata | English: clausena | Rutaceae | tree |
Clerodendrum japonicum | English: glorybower | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Clusia rosea | English: signature tree, autograph tree, copey, Scotch attorney, pitchapple | Guttiferae | tree |
Conocarpus erectus | English: sea mulberry, buttonwood, button mangrove | Combretaceae | shrub/tree |
Cordia curassavica | English: black sage | Boraginaceae | shrub |
English: broad-leaved cordia | Boraginaceae | tree | |
English: jubata grass, Andean pampas grass, purple pampas grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: pampas grass, silver pampas grass, Uruguayan pampas grass | Poaceae | grass | |
Corynocarpus laevigatus | English: New Zealand laurel, karakara nut | Corynocarpaceae | tree |
English: rubber vine, India rubber vine, Palay rubbervine; Other: liane de gatope (New Caledonia) | Asclepiadaceae | vine | |
English: Madagascar rubbervine | Asclepiadaceae | vine | |
English: carrotwood, tuckeroo | Sapindaceae | tree | |
English: Australian tree fern; French: fougère arborescente d’Australia | Cyatheaceae | fern | |
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 | |
English: Indian dalbergia, Indian rosewood, sissoo, shisham; French: ébénier juane | Fabaceae | tree | |
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 |
virgatus | English: slender mimosa, virgate mimosa; French: sensitive de montravel (New Caledonia); Other: anil, jureminha (Brazil) | Fabaceae | herb |
Spanish: engorda-caballo, vara de arco, pie de paloma, vara larga, vara blanca, Juana de Arco, gutao, Juana Larga | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Dichrostachys cinerea | English: aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, sickle bush, marabou-thorn, marabú, Sen Domeng, Saint Domingue, acacia Saint Domingue | Fabaceae | shrub |
Digitaria insularis | English: cottongrass, sourgrass, feather-top grass | Poaceae | grass |
Dillenia suffruticosa | English: shrubby dillenia, shrubby simpoh | Dilleniaceae | shrub/tree |
English: aleman grass, carib grass, creeping rivergrass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: egeria, leafy elodea, dense waterweed | Hydrocharitaceae | aquatic herb | |
Erigeron karvinskianus | English: Mexican daisy, seaside daisy, daisy fleabane | Asteraceae | herb |
Eugenia uniflora | 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 |
Ficus altissima | English: lofty fig, false banyan, council tree | Moraceae | tree |
English: Moreton Bay fig | Moraceae | tree | |
English: Chinese banyan, Malayan banyan, Indian laurel; Other: lulk (Palau); nunu (Chamorro, CNMI) | Moraceae | tree | |
English: tibig | Moraceae | tree | |
English: rusty-leaved fig, Port Jackson fig, littleleaf fig | Moraceae | tree | |
Flacourtia jangomas | English: Indian-plum, runeala-plum; French: prunier d'Inde; Spanish: ciruela forastera; Other: venevene pāma (Cook Islands); palamu (Niue) | Flacourtiaceae | tree |
Flindersia brayleyana | English: Queensland maple, silkwood | Rutaceae | tree |
Furcraea hexapetala | English: Cuban hemp, hemp; Other: cubuya (Galapagos Islands) | Agavaceae | succulent |
Gmelina arborea | English: gmelina, white teak, white beech; Spanish: melina; Other: yemane (Fiji, Philippines) | Verbenaceae | tree |
English: balloon plant, balloon cottonbush, bladderbush, wild cotton | Asclepiadaceae | shrub | |
English: kahili flower, Banks grevillea; Other: ha‘iku, kahili (Hawai‘i); ‘oka pua ‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)) | Proteaceae | tree | |
English: phalsa | Tiliaceae | tree | |
English: Senegal tea, temple plant | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: logwood, bloodwood tree, campeachy wood, campeche | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: harungana | Clusiaceae | tree | |
Hedychium gardnerianum | English: kahili ginger; Other: kōpī (Cook Islands); cevuga dromodromo (Fiji); kahili, ‘awapuhi kahili (Hawai‘i); sinter weitahta (Pohnpei) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Heliocarpus popayanensis | English: moho, white moho | Tiliaceae | tree |
English: pearl flower | Melastomataceae | herb | |
English: star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other: pua hōkū (Hawai'i) | Campanulaceae | herb | |
Hiptage benghalensis | English: hiptage; French: liane de cerf | Malpighiaceae | shrub |
English: hydrilla, Florida elodea, water thyme | Hydrocharitaceae | herb | |
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 | |
English: hymenachne, trompetilla, West Indian marsh grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: jaragua grass, thatching grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: hairy cat’s ear, gosmore | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: wild spikenard, chan; French: gros baume, hyptis à odeur; Other: mumutun (Guam) | Lamiaceae | herb | |
English: blady grass, cogon grass, satintail; French: paille de dys, paillotte, impérata cylindrique, impérate; Other: gi, ngi (Fiji); alang-alang, lalang (Indonesia, Malaysia); kasoring (Palau) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: paddle grass; Other: mah (Kosrae); reh padil (Pohnpei) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: muraina grass, wrinkle duck-beak, saramatta grass; Other: tho muraina, co muraina (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: centipede grass, stalkleaf murainagrass, lucuntu grass; Other: waidoi grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: jacaranda | Bignoniaceae | tree | |
English: Brazilian jasmine | Oleaceae | vine | |
English: bellyache bush, cotton-leaved physic nut | Euphorbiaceae | shrub | |
Juncus spp. | English: rush | Juncaceae | rush |
English: pink plume-flower, pink jacobinia | Acanthaceae | shrub | |
Kunzea ericoides | English: tree manuka, tree manuba, kanuka (New Zealand), burgan, white teatree | Myrtaceae | tree |
Lablab purpureus | English: hyacinth bean, lablab, bonavist, Egyptian kidney bean, dolichos; French: dolique, dolique d'Egypte, pois nourrice; Other: ndralawa, natomba, tomba (Fiji); cheribilla apaka, chuchumeko (Guam--Chamorro); papapa, pi (Hawai'i); pini lae puaka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
English: duckweed; Other: fala‘o‘oto (Samoa) | Lemnaceae | herb | |
English: lion’s tail, lion’s ear, Christmas candlestick; French: gros bouton, gros tête | Lamiaceae | herb | |
Leonurus japonicus | English: lion’s tail, Chinese motherwort; Other: vavai tara (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro) | Lamiaceae | herb |
English: New Zealand tea; manuka (New Zealand) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
Licuala grandis | English: ruffled fan palm; French: palmier-cuillère | Arecaceae | tree (palm) |
English: brush box, Brisbane box, vinegar tree | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: ludwigia, Peruvian primrose, water primrose | Onagraceae | shrub | |
Macfadyena unguis-cati | English: cat's-claw climber | Bignoniaceae | vine |
English: umbrella tree, musizi | Rhamnaceae | tree | |
English: chandelier tree, showy melastome, showy medinilla, Malaysian orchid | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
English: holdtight | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
English: melaleuca, cajeput, paper bark tree, punk tree; Other: niaouli (New Caledonia) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: Asian melastome, Indian rhododendron, Malabar melastome | Melastomataceae | tree | |
English: fox-tongued melastoma, red melastome | Melastomataceae | shrub/tree | |
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 | |
English: Spanish lime | Sapindaceae | tree | |
English: melinis, molasses grass; French: mélinis, herbe molasses, herbe à miel; Other: puakatau (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass | |
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 |
English: melochia | Sterculiaceae | tree | |
Melastomataceae | shrub | ||
English: miconia, velvetleaf, purple plague, bush currant | Melastomataceae | tree | |
English: meadow ricegrass, weeping grass | Poaceae | grass | |
Mikania scandens | English: climbing hempweed, climbing hempvine | Asteraceae | vine |
Mimosa pigra | English: catclaw mimosa, thorny sensitiveplant, giant mimosa, giant sensitive plant, black mimosa, zaraz, dormilona, bashful plant, amourette violet; French: amourette riviére | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: montanoa, tree daisy, Anzac flower | Asteraceae | shrub | |
Morella faya | English: fayatree, firetree, firebush | Myricaceae | tree |
English: cow itch, velvet bean, Bengal bean, Mauritius bean; French: pois pouilleux, poil à gratter; Other: akangkang dangkulo (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine | |
English: jam tree, strawberry tree, Jamaican cherry, Singapore cherry, Panama cherry, Panama berry, ornamental cherry, calabura, sirsen; French: bois ramier; Other: venevene (Cook Islands (Penrhyn)); capulin (Fiji, French Polynesia); manzanilla, mansanita, manzanita (Guam, CNMI), budo (Palau, Yap) | Tiliaceae | tree | |
English: parrot's feather, water feather, Brazilian water milfoil | Haloragidaceae | aquatic herb | |
Neonotonia wightii | English: glycine; French: soja pérenne | Fabaceae | vine |
kirkii | English: Micky Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush | Ochnaceae | shrub/tree |
English: ochna, Mickey-Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush | Ochnaceae | shrub | |
Ochroma pyramidale | English: balsa, corkwood, down tree | Bombacaceae | tree |
English: olive; Other: ‘oliwa, ‘oliwa haole (Hawai'i) | Oleaceae | tree | |
English: paper rose, St. Thomas lidpod; Other: alalag (Guam); palulu (Samoa); fue hina (Tonga) | Convolvulaceae | vine | |
Melastomataceae | shrub | ||
English: oxyspora, bristletips | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
Paederia foetida | English: stink vine, skunk vine; Other: maile pilau, maile ka kahiki (Hawai'i). | Rubiaceae | vine |
English: torpedo grass, couch panicum, creeping panic; French: panic rampant, millet rampant; Other: wainaku grass (Hawai'i) | Poaceae | grass | |
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 |
English: fimbriate paspalum, winged paspalum, Panama paspalum, Panama crowngrass, Columbia grass | Poaceae | grass | |
scrobiculatum | English: rice grass; creeping paspalum, ditch millet, Indian paspalum, kodo millet, water couch; Spanish: mijo koda; Other: mātā (Cook Islands); co duru levu, tho nduru levu, tho ndina, tho ni ndina (Fiji); karasi (Solomon Islands) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum urvillei | English: Vasey grass; French: herbe de Vasey, paspalum d'Urville; Other: tinikarāti (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) | Poaceae | grass |
English: wild passion fruit, wingstem passionflower | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
English: blue passion flower | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
English: scarlet passion flower, red passion flower, red granadilla | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
Passiflora 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 |
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 | |
English: two-lobed passion flower, wingleaf passionfruit | Passifloraceae | shrub | |
Passiflora rubra | English: red passionfruit, Dutchman's laudanum; Other: pōkutekute (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) | Passifloraceae | vine |
English: banana poka, banana passionfruit, bananadilla | Passifloraceae | vine | |
English: paulownia, princess-tree, Chinese empress tree, karri-tree | Scrophulariaceae | tree | |
English: kikuyu grass, kikuyo | Poaceae | grass | |
English: mission grass, feathery pennisetum; French: queue de chat; Other: mechen katu (Chuuk), pwokso, dipw rais (Pohnpei), o tamata (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: fountain grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: philadelphus, evergreen mock orange, syringa | Saxifragaceae | shrub | |
English: New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp, bush flax | Agavaceae | herb | |
Phyllostachys bissetii | Poaceae | shrub | |
English: black bamboo; French: bambou noir | Poaceae | shrub | |
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 |
English: water lettuce, tropical duckweed; French: laitue d'eau, pistie; Spanish: lechuguita de agua, repollo de agua | Araceae | aquatic herb | |
English: Madras thorn, Manila tamarind, sweet inga; 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 | |
English: pittosporum, Taiwanese cheesewood, mamalis | Pittosporaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: tobira, Japanese pittosporum, Japanese cheesewood, mock orange, Australian laurel | Pittosporaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: Victorian box, Victorian laurel, Australian cheesewood, mock orange, sweet pittosporum, orange pittosporum | Pittosporaceae | tree | |
Pittosporum viridiflorum | English: cape pittosporum | Pittosporaceae | tree |
Platycerium bifurcatum | English: elkhorn fern, staghorn fern | Selaginellaceae | fern |
English: sour bush | Asteraceae | shrub | |
English: Indian fleabane, Indian pluchea, Indian camphorweed | Asteraceae | shrub | |
English: praxelis | Asteraceae | herb | |
Prosopis spp. | English: mesquite, algaroba; Spanish: algarrobo | Fabaceae | tree |
Psidium guineense | English: Brazilian guava, Guinea guava; French: goyavier du Brésil | Myrtaceae | shrub/tree |
Pueraria phaseoloides | English: tropical kudzu, puero; Other: kūkū (Cook Islands (‘Aitu)) | Fabaceae | vine |
English: flame vine, flame flower, golden shower, orange trumpet vine | Bignoniaceae | vine | |
English: Rangoon creeper | Combretaceae | vine | |
English: rose myrtle, downy myrtle, Isenberg bush; French: myrte-groseille, feijoa | Myrtaceae | shrub | |
Rhynchospora caduca | Cyperaceae | herb | |
English: baby pepper, bloodberry, coral berry, rouge plant; Other: polo (Tonga) | Phytolaccaceae | herb | |
English: giant bramble | Rosaceae | shrub | |
Rubus argutus | English: prickly Florida blackberry; Other: ōhelo ‘ele ‘ele (Hawai‘i) | Rosaceae | shrub |
English: yellow Himalayan raspberry | Rosaceae | shrub | |
Rubus glaucus | English: Andean blackberry, Andean black raspberry; French: mûre des Andes; Spanish: mora, mora blanca, mora de Castilla, zarzamora azul | Rosaceae | shrub |
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 niveus | English: Ceylon raspberry, hill raspberry, Mysore raspberry; Spanish: frambuesa | Rosaceae | shrub |
English: roseleaf raspberry, thimbleberry, Mauritius raspberry; French: framboisier; Spanish: frambueso de Africa; Other: ōla‘a, ākala, ākalakala (Hawai‘i) | Rosaceae | shrub | |
Rubus sieboldii | English: Molucca raspberry | Rosaceae | shrub |
Rubus spp. |
English: raspberries, blackberries, brambles | Rosaceae | shrub |
Ruellia brevifolia | Acanthaceae | herb | |
Salvinia molesta | English: salvinia, water fern, kariba weed, African payal | Salviniaceae | fern |
Sanchezia parvibracteata | English: sanchezia | Acanthaceae | shrub |
English: pepper tree, California pepper tree, Peruvian peppertree, pepperina; French: faux poivrier, molée des jardins, poivrier d'Amérique | Anacardiaceae | tree | |
English: Christmas-berry, Brazilian pepper, Brazilian holly, Florida holly; French: faux poivrier, poivre du Brésil, poivre rose; Other: warui (Fiji); wilelaiki (Hawai‘i), naniohilo (Hawai‘i (Moloka‘i)) | Anacardiaceae | tree | |
English: little bluestem, bush beardgrass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: fireweed | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: habucha, coffeeweed, sicklepod | Fabaceae | herb | |
English: buttercup bush, yellow shower, laburnum; Other: mosimosi, naseni karakarawa, winivinikau (Fiji); kolomona, kalamona (Hawai'i) | Fabaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia, pheasantwood, Thailand shower; French: bois perdrix; Other: kasia (Tonga) | Fabaceae | 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 |
Solandra maxima | English: golden cup, cup of gold, chalice vine; Spanish: copa de oro | Solanaceae | liana |
English: bugweed, wild tobacco, tree tobacco; Other: rau ‘ava‘ava (Cook Islands); pua nana honua (Hawai'i); pula (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub | |
English: potato creeper, Brazilian nightshade | Solanaceae | vine | |
English: wetland nightshade, aquatic soda apple | Solanaceae | aquatic herb | |
English: tropical soda apple | Solanaceae | herb? | |
English: Johnson grass, Aleppo grass, Aleppo milletgrass; French: sorgho d' Alep, sorgo de Alepo, herbe de Cuba; Spanish: cañuela, Don Carlos; Other: kola (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass | |
Sporobolus elongatus | English: wiregrass, rat-tail dropseed | Poaceae | grass |
English: stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) | Fabaceae | herb | |
English: turpentine tree, lustre wood | Myrtaceae | tree | |
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 |
Tabebuia heterophylla | English: pink tecoma, pink trumpet tree, white cedar; Other: calice du pape | Bignoniaceae | tree |
Terminalia myriocarpa | English: hollock, jhalna | Combretaceae | tree |
English: Florida clover ash | Melastomataceae | shrub/tree | |
Tibouchina herbacea | English: glorybush, cane ti, tibouchina | Melastomataceae | herb |
Timonius timon | English: liberal (Palau); Other: sakosia (from Ecoport, no source given) | Rubiaceae | tree |
English: Chinese tallow tree, popcorn tree, vegetable tallow, white wax berry, chicken tree, Florida aspen; French: arbre à suif, boiré | Euphorbiaceae | tree | |
English: puncture vine, caltrop, burrnut, Jamaican feverplant, goat’s head; Spanish: cacho de chivo; Other: nohu, nohunohu (Hawai‘i); te maukinikini (Kiribati) | Zygophyllaceae | herb | |
English: puncture vine, goat head; French: tribule terrestre | Zygophyllaceae | herb | |
English: limeberry, lemon China; Other: limon-China, lemon de china, limoncito (Guam) | Rutaceae | shrub | |
English: long john, long jack | Polygonaceae | tree | |
Tripsacum latifolium | English: wideleaf gamagrass | Poaceae | grass |
English: Sacramento bur; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam) | Tiliaceae | shrub | |
English: turbina, Christmas vine, ololiuqui | Convolvulaceae | vine | |
English: yellow alder, sage rose, West Indian holly, ramgoat dashalong; Other: nõr in jiboñ (Marshall Islands) | Turneraceae | herb | |
Ulex europaeus | English: gorse, furze, whin; French: ajonc, bois jonc, jonc marin, vigneau | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: hibiscus burr, aramina, caesarweed, pink Chinese burr, urena burr, bur mallow; French: jute africain, cousin urène; Other: mautofu (American Samoa and Samoa); nognuk, ocher (Chuuk); qatima, gataya, nggatima (Fiji); vavai tara tītā (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); piripiri (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); dadangsi, dadangsi apaka, dadangsi machingat, dádangse (Guam); motipo, mosipo (Niue); chosuched e kui, osuched a rechui (Palau); karap, korop (Pohnpei); mo'osipo Tonga (Tonga) | Malvaceae | shrub | |
English: California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass; French: herbe de Para; Other: mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands); puakatau (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: small-leaved vitex, smallflower chastetree; Other: lagundi (Guam); molauin, molave (Philippines); molave (Hawai'i) | Verbenaceae | shrub/tree | |
English: weeping lilly pilly, weeping myrtle | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: calla lily, arum lily | Araceae | herb | |
English: Indian jujube, Chinese date, Chinee apple; Other: manzanas, manzanita, jujube (Guam); baer, bahir, baher (Fiji) | Rhamnaceae | tree |
NOTE: The common names in this and the following tables are from the PIER data base and web site and include names in use at various locations throughout the Pacific. Additional information can be found in the individual species summaries at the PIER web site or on the PIER CD.
Table 2. Introduced species that are invasive or potentially invasive in Samoa
Scientific 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, Polynesian peanut; French: bois de condori; Other: lopa (American Samoa, French 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 |
Albizia chinensis | English: Chinese albizia, silktree; Other: ‘arapitia (Cook Islands); tamaligi uliuli, tamaligi ena‘ena (Samoa) | Fabaceae | tree |
Ardisia elliptica | English: shoebutton ardisia; Other: venevene tinitō (Cook Islands); ati popa‘a, atiu (French Polynesia); togo vao (Samoa) | Myrsinaceae | shrub |
*Asparagus densiflorus | English: asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern | Liliaceae | herb |
*Asparagus setaceus | English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa; French: asperge plumeuse; Other: remu (Cook Islands); taupo ‘ou (Tonga) | Liliaceae | vine |
Carludovica palmata | English: Panama hat plant; French: carludovique palmée; Spanish: chidra, palma de sombrero, palma jipijapa, toquilla; Other: Panamā (Cook Islands) | Cyclanthaceae | shrub |
Castilla elastica | English: Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree; Other: pulu mamoe (American Samoa) | Moraceae | tree |
Cinnamomum verum | English: cinnamon tree; French: cannelier de Ceylan; Other: ochod ra ngebard (Palau). tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) | Lauraceae | tree |
Clerodendrum chinense | English: Honolulu rose, stickbush, glory bower; Other: losa Honolulu, losa Onolulu (American Samoa and Samoa); pītate māma‘o, tiare tupapaku? (Cook Islands); pikake hohono, pikake wauke (Hawai'i) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: tirooj in belle (Marshall Islands); kleuang (Palau); tuhkehn palau (Pohnpei); bagauac (Philippines); losa, losa Fiti (American Samoa and Samoa) | Verbenaceae | shrub | |
English: Koster’s curse, soap bush; French: canot-macaque; Other: kui, kúi (Palau); kauresinga, kaurasinga, roinisinga, ndraunisinga, mara na bulumakau, mbona na mbulamakau, vuti (Fiji); la‘au lau mamoe (Samoa), kaurasiga (from Ecoport, no source given) | Melastomataceae | shrub | |
*Coccinia grandis | English: ivy gourd, scarlet-fruited gourd; Other: kundru (Fiji); kiuri awia (Marshall Islands); aipikohr (Pohnpei) | Cucurbitaceae | vine |
Cordia alliodora | English: laurel, Ecuador laurel, salmwood, Spanish elm; French: bois de Chypre, pardillo; Other: kotia (Samoa, Tonga) | Boraginaceae | tree |
Dieffenbachia seguine | English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane; Other: yalu ni vavalagi (Fiji) | Araceae | herb |
Dissotis rotundifolia | English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady | Melastomataceae | herb |
Eichhornia crassipes | English: water hyacinth; French: jacinthe d'eau; Other: riri vai (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); mbekambekairanga, ndambendambe ni nga, jal khumbe, bekabekairaga, dabedabe ne ga, jal khumbe (Fiji); bung el ralm (Palau) | Pontederiaceae | aquatic herb |
Elaeocarpus angustifolius | English: blue fig, blue marble tree, quandong (Australia); Other: sapatua, siapoatua, siapatua (American Samoa and Samoa) | Elaeocarpaceae | tree |
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 |
Falcataria moluccana | English: Molucca albizia; Other: tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); ‘ārapitia (Cook Islands); tuhke kerosene, tuhkehn karisihn (Pohnpei); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); tamaligi paepae (Samoa) | Fabaceae | tree |
Fabaceae | tree | ||
English: luck plant, wild hops; French: sainfoin du bengale; Other: besungelaiei (Palau) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Funtumia elastica | English: African rubber tree, silkrubber; French: arbre à caoutchouc; Other: pulu vao (Samoa) | Apocynaceae | 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 |
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 | |
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 | |
English: metal leaf; red ivy, cemetery plant (Fiji); Other: suipi (American Samoa and Samoa) | Acanthaceae | herb | |
Hevea brasiliensis | English: hevea, Brazilian rubber tree, Para rubber tree; French: arbre de Para, hévéa; Spanish: árbol del caucho, cauchotero de Pará, jebe, siringa; Other: rapa (Fiji) | Euphorbiaceae | tree |
Kyllinga polyphylla | English: Navua sedge; Other: tuise tele, tuise fiti (Samoa) | 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 |
*Ligustrum spp. | English: privet | Oleaceae | shrubs/small trees |
Merremia tuberosa | English: wood rose, Spanish arborvine, yellow morning-glory; French: liane-à-tonelle, liane-jaune; Other: alarrak (Saipan); pilikai (Hawai‘i) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
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 | |
diplotricha | English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; French: grande sensitive, sensitive gèante; Other: vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa); pikika‘a papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); wa ngandrongandro levu, wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu, co gadrogadro (Fiji); mechiuaiuu (Palau); limemeihr laud (Pohnpei); singbiguin sasa (Saipan); la'au fefe palagi (Samoa) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Odontonema tubaeforme | English: fire spike, cardinal flower; Other: totoe (American Samoa and Samoa) | Acanthaceae | shrub |
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 |
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); ‘ava Tonga (Samoa), kava Hawai‘i (Tonga) | Piperaceae | shrub |
English: strawberry guava, cherry guava, Cattley guava, Chinese guava; French: goyavier de Chine; Other: tūava papa‘ā (Cook Islands); ngguava (Fiji), tuava tinito, tuvava tinito (French Polynesia); waiawi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai'i); kuahpa (Pohnpei); ku‘ava (Samoa) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
English: guava; French: goyavier; Spanish: guayaba, guayabo; Other: ku‘ava (American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa); kuafa (Chuuk); tūava, tūvava (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); quwawa, nguava, ngguava ni India, amrut (Fiji); tumu tuava (French Polynesia); abas guayaba (Galapagos); abas (Guam, Saipan-Chamorro, Yap); kuawa, kuawa ke‘oke‘o, kuawa lemi, kuawa momona, pauwa (Hawai‘i); kuhfahfah (Kosrae); te kuava, te kuawa (Kiribati); kuwawa (Nauru); kautoga, kautonga, kautoga tane, kautonga tane (Niue); guabang, kuabang (Palau); guahva, kuahpa (Pohnpei); apas (Saipan); abwas (Saipan-Carolinian) | Myrtaceae | tree | |
Sesbania grandiflora | English: sesbania, hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree, corkwood tree; French: agati a grandes fleurs; Other: agati, agathi (Fiji); oufai, ofai, ouai (French Polynesia); katurai (Guam); ohai ke‘oke‘o (Hawai‘i); sepania (Samoa) | Fabaceae | small tree |
Solanum capsicoides | English: cockroach berry, devil’s apple, soda apple; Other: poro‘iti taratara (Cook Islands); kikania kei, akaaka, akaka (Hawai'i) | Solanaceae | 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), lapiti (Samoa) | Solanaceae | shrub |
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: mautofu tai, mautofu vao, mautofu fualanumoana (American Samoa and Samoa);ouchung, sakura (Chuuk); tiāki (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); turulakaka, tumbutumbu, serakawa, lavenia, se karakarawa (Fiji), te uti (Kiribati); mautofu Samoa, motofu Samoa (Niue); louch beluu (Palau); hiku ‘i kuma, hiku‘kuma, ‘iku ‘i kuma, iku ‘ikuma (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | herb |
Syngonium angustatum | English: arrowhead plant, goosefoot plant | Araceae | vine |
Tephrosia candida | English: white tephrosia, white hoary-pea; French: indigo sauvage, indigo blanc | Fabaceae | shrub |
Tibouchina urvilleana | English: glorybush, lasiandra, princess flower | Melastomataceae | herb |
*Tradescantia spathacea | English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat; Other: riri mangio (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); riri raei (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); talotalo, laupapaki (Niue); faina kula (Tonga) | Commelinaceae | herb |
*Tradescantia zebrina | English: wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant; Other: mauku papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) | Commelinaceae | herb |
*Only seen or reported to be in cultivation
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Abelmoschus moschatus | English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; French: ambrette, gombo musqué, ketmie musquée, graine de musc; Other: ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa); karereon, karereon nikapwerik nik, kareron, likonokon (Chuuk); vavai tara (Cook Islands); ta‘uri‘au (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); wakiwaki, wakewake, wakeke, vakeke, aukiki, okeoke, o‘e‘e (Fiji);kamang, ka‘mang (Guam); fou ingo (Niue), gongul (Palau); metei, mety, methey (Pohnpei); loa, fau‘ingo (Tonga); fau ingo (Wallis and Futuna); hathongethong, kamwayang, nikapwerik, setmwechin, sotumo (Yap) | Malvaceae | herb |
Acacia auriculiformis | English: Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands); tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) | Fabaceae | tree |
Acacia mangium | English: mangium, brown salwood, black wattle, hickory wattle; Other: ākasia (Cook Islands); tuhkehn pwelmwahu (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 | |
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 | |
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 |
*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 |
Arundo donax | English: giant reed, Spanish reed, wild cane; French: canne de Provence, grand roseau; Other: ngasau ni vavalangi (Fiji); fiso palagi (Samoa); kaho folalahi (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
Asystasia gangetica | English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel | Acanthaceae | herb |
English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass | Poaceae | grass | |
Bambusa spp. | 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 palagi (Samoa); kofe (Tonga, Tuvalu); pitu (Tonga); pampu (Tuvalu); moor (Yap) | Poaceae | tree |
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 | |
English: purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree, pink butterfly tree (Fiji); French: fleurs pourpres | Fabaceae | tree | |
English: orchid tree; mountain ebony, butterfly tree (Fiji); French: bois de boeuf, sabot boeuf, arbre de Saint-Thomas | Fabaceae | tree | |
Bothriochloa bladhii | English: blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem; Other: desum (Palau); latoka grass, thamboni grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
*Bryophyllum delagoense | English: chandelier plant | Crassulaceae | herb |
Calliandra calothyrsus | English: powderpuff red calliandra; Other: kaliana (Samoa) | Fabaceae | shrub |
*Calliandra surinamensis | English: Surinamese stickpea | Fabaceae | tree |
English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) | Fabaceae | vine | |
English: calotrope, crown flower, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai'i); tahinu (French Polynesia) | Ascelepiadaceae | shrub | |
Canna indica | English: canna, canna lily, Indian shot; French: balisier comestible, tous-les-mois; Other: fanamanu, fagamanu, fa‘i masoa (American Samoa and Samoa); nūāenga (Cook Islands); tiare papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); pia renga (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); gasau ni ga (Fiji); pia-raroto‘a (French Polynesia); fagafaga (Futuna); mongos halum-tano (Guam); ali‘ipoe, li'ipoe, poloka (Hawai'i); riti (Kiribati), luiuenwai (Pohnpei); apeellap, oruuru (Puluwat); te misimisi (Tonga) | Cannaceae | herb |
Casuarina equisetifolia | English: casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; French: arbe de fer; Spanish: arbol de hierro; Other: toa (American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hawai‘i, Niue, Samoa and Tonga); weeku (Chuuk); nokonoko, nokonoko ndamu, nggaro, thau, velau, nakure, qaro (Fiji); ‘aito (French Polynesia (Society Islands)); gagu, gago (Guam, CNMI); weighu (CNMI-Carolinian); pientri (pinetree), nidil, bû ukam (bluegum on some atolls), nidõ (needle" on some atolls) burukam (Kiribati); mejinoki (Marshall Islands); agas, agasu, ngas, ngasu (Palau); ueuhir (Satawal); neokuk, ueoku, ueokuk (Satawan); lach (Ulithi); laash (Woleai); noc, nach (Yap); te katurina (from Ecoport, source not given) | Casuarinaceae | tree |
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 | |
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 |
Cestrum nocturnum | English: night-flowering cestrum, night-flowering jasmine, queen (or lady) of the night; Other: teine o le po, ali‘i o le po (American Samoa and Samoa); tiare ariki-va‘ine, ariki-va‘ine (Cook Islands); thauthau, thauthau ni mbongi, kara (Fiji); dama-de-noche (Guam); ‘ala aumoe, kupaoa, onaona Iapana (Hawai‘i); joñoul ru awa (Marshall Islands); iki he po (Niue); lakau po‘uli (Tonga) | Solanaceae | shrub |
English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna; Other: lauki (Hawai‘i); kobo-cha, nemu-cha (Japan) | Fabaceae | shrub | |
English: swollen fingergrass, purpletop chloris (Australia), airport grass (Fiji); Other: mau’u lei (Hawai'i) | Poaceae | grass | |
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 |
Clerodendrum paniculatum | English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower; Other: butcherechár, butecherechar (Palau); tukehn sousou (Pohnpei) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Clitoria ternatea | English: butterfly pea, Asian pigeonwings; French: honte; Other: buikike, bukike, paokeke, bukike paokeke, capa de la reina, kapa de la raina (Guam); putitainubia (CNMI); pepe (Niue); latoela, nawa (Fiji), paipa (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
*Coffea arabica | English: coffee; French: café, caféier d’ Arabie; Spanish: café, cafeto; Other: kaope, kaope Maori (Cook Islands); kove (Fiji); kofe (Fiji, Niue, Samoa), kofi (Tonga); kafe (Marquesas); taofe (Tahiti) | Rubiaceae | tree |
Commelina diffusa | English: commelina, dayflower, wandering Jew, spiderwort; Spanish: chiriyuyo; Other: mau‘u toga, mau‘u Tonga (American Samoa and Samoa); mauku-vai, mauku ‘oro‘enua, mauku puakatoro (Cook Islands); ai rorongi, ai rongorongo, airogorogo, cobulabula, rongomatailevu, thombulambula, matembulambula, drano,duludauwere, ndrano, ndulandauwere, luna, tho nggalonggalo (Fiji), ma‘apape (French Polynesia); semprebiban-damalong (Guam); honohono (Hawai‘i); mohuku vai, musie matala pulu (Tonga) | Commelinaceae | herb |
Costus speciosus | English: crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed; Other: isebsab (Palau) | Zingiberaceae | herb |
Crotalaria micans | English: crotalaria; Other: pine kotalelia, pile (Niue) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Cuscuta campestris | English: golden dodder, field dodder, five-angled dodder; Other: tiaea (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); navereverelangi, wa vereverelangi, wa lawala, wa mbosuthu, wa ndanga, wa tikaivu, ndithangi (Fiji) | Cuscutaceae | vine |
English: umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass; Other: ‘ahu‘awa haole, pu‘uka‘a haole (Hawai‘i) | Cyperaceae | sedge | |
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 | |
Derris malaccensis | English: New Guinea creeper; Other: ‘ava niukini (American Samoa and Samoa); ‘ora pāpua, rakau papua (Cook Islands); nduva, tuva, nduva ni niukini (Fiji); hora papua (French Polynesia); akau niukini (Niue); kava fisi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | vine |
Desmodium tortuosum | English: Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil | Fabaceae | herb |
Digitaria ciliaris | English: Henry's crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, tropical crab grass, large crab grass, southern crabgrass, fingergrass, summer grass; French: digitaire ciliée; Other: kukaepua'a (Hawai'i); Saulangi (Niue) | Poaceae | grass |
Digitaria violascens | English: smooth crabgrass, violet crabgrass; Other: sau (Palau) | Poaceae | grass |
*Duranta erecta | English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other: ‘olive (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | shrub |
Eleusine indica | English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow's foot, bullgrass; French: pied de poule; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); mauku mārōki‘aki‘a (Cook Islands); kavoronaisivi, vorovoroisivi, ghoraya (Fiji); tamamau (French Polynesia), umog (Guam); manienie ali‘i (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 |
English: banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; French: figuier des pagodes; Other: pulu (Samoa) | Moraceae | tree | |
English: weeping fig, baka, Java fig, weeping fig, Benjamin tree; Other: ‘ovava Fisi (Tonga) | Moraceae | tree | |
English: India rubber tree, rubber plant; Other: rapa (Cook Islands); komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak‘iynigoma (Yap) | Moraceae | tree | |
Flacourtia rukam | English: Indian plum, Indian prune, governor's plum; French: prunier café, prunier de Chine, prunier malgache; Other: filimoto (American Samoa, Fiji, Futuna, Samoa, Tonga) | Flacourtiaceae | tree |
Furcraea foetida | English: Mauritius hemp, sisal, maguey, giant cabuya; French: aloès vert, chanvre de Maurice; Other: piāni, rōpiāni (Cook Islands); malina (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)); toua (Niue); faumalila, fau malila (Tonga) | Agavaceae | succulent |
Gliricidia sepium | English: mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac; Spanish: madre de cacao | Fabaceae | tree |
Heliconia spp. | English: heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw; Other: tiare pārata‘ito (Cook Islands), vae paa (Samoa) | Heliconiaceae | herb |
English: knobweed; Other: botones, batunes (Guam); t'aiegarabao, pathpath (Yap), maa uupo (French Polynesia) | Lamiaceae | herb | |
English: comb hyptis, comb bushmint, mint weed, purple top; French: fausse menthe; Spanish: poleo o iso (Galapagos); Other: miri tītā (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); tamole ni veikau, tamoli ni vavalangi, timothi ni vavalangi, wavuwavu, ndamoli, ben tulsia (Fiji); mumutun lahe, mumutun palaoan, mumutan ademelon (Guam); vao mini (Samoa) | Lamiaceae | herb | |
Indigofera suffruticosa | English: indigo; Other: ‘initiko (Cook Islands); aniles (Guam); ‘iniko, inikoa, kolu (Hawai'i); la‘au mageso (Samoa); ‘akau veli (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Ipomoea aquatica | English: aquatic morning glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach, ung-choi, kang kong; French: liseron d'eau, patate aquatique; Other: aseri, seeri, seri (Chuuk); rukau taviri? (Cook Islands); ota karisa, ota karisi, wa kumala, ndrinikava, luve ne tombithi (Fiji), akankong, cancon, kangkun, kangkung, kankan (Guam); te kang kong (Kiribati); lorenzo (Nauru), kangum, kangkum (Palau); lili vai (Samoa); kangkong (Ulithi, Yap); kangking, kongkong (Yap) | Convolvulaceae | aquatic herb |
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 brevifolia | English: green kyllinga, green water sedge; Other: tumu ‘enua (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); kili‘o‘opu, kaluha, manunene, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); tuise (Samoa); pakopako (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other: neke ‘enua (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Ngaputoru?)); chaguan lemae, botoncillo (Guam—Chamorro); kili‘o‘opu (Hawai‘i), ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a vili taliga, matie upo‘o, matie Tahiti, mo‘u upo‘onui, mo‘u upo‘o, tuise (Samoa); pakopako, pakopako ‘ae kuma (Tahiti); tuise (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge | |
Leucaena leucocephala | English: leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree; French: graines de lin, faux-acacia, faux mimosa (New Caledonia); Other: 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 |
Macroptilium atropurpureum | English: siratro, purple bushbean | Fabaceae | herb |
Mimosa pudica | English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; French: sensitive; Other: 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 |
Paspalum conjugatum | English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); French: herbe sure, herbe créole; herbe de tauère (New Caledonia); Other: vaolima, (American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, Niue); fetin wumwune (Chuuk); mauku taravao, mauku katini (Cook Islands); mau‘u Hilo (Hawai‘i), muhsrasre (Kosrae); moise vaolima, motie vaolima (Niue and Tonga); udel ra ngebei (Palau); rehn wai (Pohnpei); vaolima matafao, vaolima papalagi (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum dilatatum | English: paspalum, dallis grass, water grass; French: paspalum dilaté, herbe sirop, herbe de miel, herbe de dallis, millet bâtard; Other: hiku nua (Niue) | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum paniculatum | English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass; Other: matie manutai (Cook Islands); taravao ‘uru‘uru (Cook Islands (Mangaia)) | Poaceae | grass |
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 | |
English: yellow granadilla, belle apple, yellow water-lemon; French: pomme-liane, pomme d'or; Other: pasio vao (Samoa); vaine 'ae kuma (Tonga) | Passifloraceae | vine | |
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 quadrangularis | English: granadilla, giant granadilla; French: barbadine; Spanish: badea (Galapagos Is.); Other: papatini, pārapōtini, pārapōtini maata? (Cook Islands); kūukuma (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 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 |
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 povi (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass |
*Pinus caribaea | English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); 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, militini (Samoa); kaloni (Tonga) | Lamiaceae | herb |
Pueraria montana var. lobata | English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna); a‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue‘aepuaka (Tonga); deday (Yap); acha, nepalem | 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)) | Acanthaceae | herb |
English: wild cane, false sugarcane; French: canne à sucre fourragère, canne sauvage; Other: to aheo (French Polynesia); ac (Kosrae); banga ruchel (Palau); tebu salah; ahlek, ahlec, (Pohnpei); vao tolo (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass | |
Sacciolepis indica | English: glenwood grass | Poaceae | grass |
*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 |
English: elderberry, Mexican elder | Caprifoliaceae | small tree | |
speciosa | English: sanchezia. | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Sansevieria trifasciata | English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue; French: chanvre d'Afrique; Other: riri (Cook Islands); tigre (Guam), kitelel (Palau) | Agavaceae | herb |
*Schefflera actinophylla | English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm; French: arbre-pieuvre, arbre ombelle | Araliaceae | tree |
*Schefflera arboricola | English: dwarf brassia, dwarf schefflera, Hawaiian elf schefflera | Araliaceae | shrub |
Senna alata | English: candle bush; candelabra bush, Roman candle tree, emperor's candlesticks, ringworm bush (Australia), alcapulco; French: epis d’or, bois dartre, dartres; Other: fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); arakak (Chuuk); mbai ni thangi (Fiji); akapuku, andadose, candalaria, take-biha (Guam); mulamula (Niue); kerula besokel, yult (Palau); rakau honuki, truke-n-kili-n-wai, tuhkehn kilin wai, tirakahonuki (Pohnpei); bakau plant (Solomon Islands); te‘elango (Tonga); flay-n-sabouw (Yap) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Senna tora | English: foetid cassia, stinking cassia, Java-bean, sickle senna, sicklepod, Chinese senna, peanut weed, sickle senna; French: cassier sauvage, pois puant, séné; Other: vao pinati (American Samoa and Samoa); pī ‘aungakino (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); kaumoce, kaumothe, pini, tarota (Fiji); mumutun admelon, mumutun palaoan, amot-tumaga carabao (Guam), te’epulu, tengafefeka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | shrub |
English: palmgrass, short pitpit, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass; Other: vao ‘ofe‘ofe (Samoa) | Poaceae | grass | |
English: foxtail, garden bristle grass, hairy-tail grass, yellow bristlegrass, Queensland pigeon grass (Australia), cat's tail grass (Fiji); French: sétaire glauque | Poaceae | grass | |
Sporobolus indicus | English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) | Poaceae | grass |
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 |
English: yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut; French: oléandre jaune; Other: koneta (Chuuk); venevene (Cook Islands (Mangaia)), ‘enere (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Miti‘aro)); nohomalie (Hawai'i); irelepsech (Yap) | Apocynaceae | small tree | |
English: black-eyed susan vine; French: suzanne aux yeux noirs | Acanthaceae | vine | |
English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine; Other: fue hina (Tonga) | Acanthaceae | vine | |
English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: bung el etiu (Palau); palulu (Samoa) | Acanthaceae | vine | |
English: purple allamanda, laurel-leaved thunbergia, laurel clock vine | Acanthaceae | vine | |
Tithonia diversifolia | English: tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower; Other: pua renga (Cook Islands); tiare rengarenga (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); kavakava, pua renga (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); matala (Niue) | Asteraceae | shrub |
Toona ciliata | English: Australian red cedar, toon, surian, Indian mahogany; Other: wood pikake (Hawai‘i); tuna (Samoa); sita kula (Tonga) | Meliaceae | tree |
Triumfetta rhomboidea | English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other: 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 |
Urochloa subquadripara | English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass | Poaceae | grass |
*Only seen or reported to be in cultivation
Table 4. Native species (or Polynesian introductions) that can exhibit aggressive behavior
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Merremia peltata | English: merremia; Other: fue vae (American Samoa), fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa); fidau, fitau, fitaw, fitay (Chuuk); kūrima (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); wa mbula, wa bula, wa damu, wa ndamu, viliyawa, wiliviwa, veliyana, wiliao (Fiji); pohue (French Polynesia); lagon, lagoun, lagun (Guam); pala, pul, para, puhlah (Kosrae); fue, fue vao, fue kula (Niue); kebeas (Palau); ceul, lohl, iol, yol, yool (Pohnpei); abui, grobihi, arosumou (Solomon Islands); fue mea (Tonga); wachathal (Yap) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!
[Return to Samoa report] [ Return to PIER homepage ]
This page revised 22 April 2006