Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Report on invasive plant species in Samoa


Appendix 4. Invasive species of environmental concern by location

Table 1.   Species present on Upolo
Table 2.   Species present on Savai‘i


Table 1. Species present on Upolu

Scientific Name

Common Names (abridged)

Family

Habit

Abelmoschus moschatus English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; Other: ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa) Malvaceae herb
Acacia auriculiformis English: Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle Fabaceae tree
Acacia mangium English: mangium, brown salwood, black wattle, hickory wattle Fabaceae tree
Adenanthera pavonina English: coral bean tree, red sandalwood tree, red bead tree, lopa, bead tree, false wiliwili, peacock flower-fence, Polynesian peanut; Other: lopa (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Albizia chinensis English: Chinese albizia, silktree; Other: tamaligi uliuli, tamaligi ena‘ena (Samoa) Fabaceae tree

Allamanda cathartica

English: yellow trumpet vine, golden trumpet, allamanda, brownbud allamanda, golden allamanda, golden cup; Other: pua taunofo (American Samoa and Samoa) Apocynaceae shrub

Alpinia purpurata

English: red ginger; Other: teuila (Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb
*Anacardium occidentale English: cashew, cashew nut; Other: ‘apu ‘initia (Samoa) Anacardiaceae tree
*Annona muricata English: soursop, prickly custard apple; Other: sasalapa (Samoa) 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 Polygonaceae vine
Ardisia elliptica English: shoebutton ardisia; Other: togo vao (Samoa) Myrsinaceae shrub
Arundo donax English: giant reed, Spanish reed, wild cane; Other: fiso palagi (Samoa) Poaceae grass
*Asparagus densiflorus English: asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern Liliaceae herb
*Asparagus setaceus English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa Liliaceae vine
Asystasia gangetica English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel Acanthaceae herb

Axonopus compressus

English: blanket grass, carpetgrass Poaceae grass

Axonopus fissifolius

English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass Poaceae grass
Bambusa spp. English: bamboo; Other: ‘ofe, ‘ofe Fiti, ‘ofe palagi (Samoa) Poaceae tree

Bauhinia monandra

English: orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon's plume Other: vae povi (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae tree

Bauhinia purpurea

English: purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree Fabaceae tree

Bauhinia variegata

English: orchid tree; mountain ebony Fabaceae tree
Bothriochloa bladhii English: blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem 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

Calopogonium mucunoides

English: calopo Fabaceae vine

Calotropis gigantea

English: calotrope, crown flower, madar Ascelepiadaceae shrub
Canna indica English: canna, canna lily, Indian shot; Other: fanamanu, fagamanu, fa‘i masoa (American Samoa and Samoa) Cannaceae herb
Carludovica palmata English: Panama hat plant Cyclanthaceae shrub
Castilla elastica English: Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree; Other: pulu mamoe (American Samoa) Moraceae tree
Casuarina equisetifolia English: casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; Other: toa (American Samoa and Samoa) Casuarinaceae tree

Cedrela odorata

English: cigar box cedar, Mexican cedar, West Indian cedar, Spanish cedar, Barbados cedar Meliaceae tree

Ceiba pentandra

English: kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, pacae; Other:  vavae (American Samoa and Samoa) Bombacaceae tree
Cenchrus echinatus English: burgrass, sand-bur, southern sandbur, Mossman River grass (Australia); Other: tuitui, vao tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa) Poaceae grass
Centrosema pubescens English: centro, butterfly-pea 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) Solanaceae shrub

Chamaecrista nictitans

English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna Fabaceae shrub
Chloris barbata Poaceae grass
Cinnamomum verum English: cinnamon tree; Other: tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) Lauraceae tree
Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax English: red clerodendrum, pagoda-flower Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum chinense English: Honolulu rose, stickbush, glory bower; Other: losa Honolulu, losa Onolulu (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum paniculatum English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower Verbenaceae shrub

Clerodendrum quadriloculare

English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: losa, losa Fiti (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae shrub

Clidemia hirta

English: Koster’s curse, soap bush; Other: la‘au lau mamoe (Samoa) Melastomataceae shrub
Clitoria ternatea English: butterfly pea, Asian pigeonwings Fabaceae vine
*Coccinia grandis English: ivy gourd, scarlet-fruited gourd Cucurbitaceae vine
*Coffea arabica English: coffee; Other: kofe (Samoa) Rubiaceae tree
Commelina diffusa English: commelina, dayflower, wandering Jew, spiderwort; Other: mau‘u toga, mau‘u Tonga (American Samoa and Samoa) Commelinaceae herb
Cordia alliodora English: laurel, Ecuador laurel, salmwood, Spanish elm; Other: kotia (Samoa) Boraginaceae tree
Costus speciosus English: crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed Zingiberaceae herb
Crotalaria micans English: crotalaria Fabaceae shrub
Cuscuta campestris English: golden dodder, field dodder, five-angled dodder Cuscutaceae vine

Cyperus involucratus

English: umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass Cyperaceae sedge

Cyperus rotundus

English: nut grass, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, cocograss; Other: mumuta (Samoa) Cyperaceae sedge
Derris malaccensis English: New Guinea creeper; Other: ‘ava niukini (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae vine
Desmodium tortuosum English: Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil Fabaceae herb
Dieffenbachia seguine English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane Araceae herb
Digitaria ciliaris English: Henry's crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, tropical crab grass, large crab grass, southern crabgrass, fingergrass, summer grass Poaceae grass
Digitaria violascens English: smooth crabgrass, violet crabgrass Poaceae grass
Dissotis rotundifolia English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady Melastomataceae herb
*Duranta erecta English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower Verbenaceae shrub
Eichhornia crassipes English: water hyacinth Pontederiaceae aquatic herb
Elaeocarpus angustifolius English: blue fig, blue marble tree, quandong (Australia); Other: sapatua, siapoatua, siapatua (American Samoa and Samoa) Elaeocarpaceae tree
Eleusine indica English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow's foot, bullgrass; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa) Poaceae grass
Epipremnum pinnatum cv. 'Aureum' English: pothos, money plant Araceae vine
Falcataria moluccana English: Molucca albizia; Other: tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); tamaligi paepae (Samoa) Fabaceae tree

Ficus benghalensis

English: banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; Other: pulu (Samoa) Moraceae tree

Ficus benjamina

English: weeping fig, baka, Java fig, weeping fig, Benjamin tree Moraceae tree

Ficus elastica

English: India rubber tree, rubber plant Moraceae tree
Flacourtia rukam English: Indian plum, Indian prune, governor's plum; Other: filimoto (American Samoa and Samoa) Flacourtiaceae tree

Flemingia strobilifera

English: luck plant, wild hops Fabaceae shrub
Funtumia elastica English: African rubber tree, silkrubber; Other: pulu vao (Samoa) Apocynaceae tree
Furcraea foetida English: Mauritius hemp, sisal, maguey, giant cabuya Agavaceae succulent
Gliricidia sepium English: mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac Fabaceae tree
*Grevillea robusta English: silk oak, silky oak, he oak, silver oak, spider flower Proteaceae tree

Hedychium coronarium

English: white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower; Other: teuila paepae (American Samoa and Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb

Hedychium flavescens

English: yellow ginger, cream ginger; Other: teuila (American Samoa and Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb
Heliconia spp. English: heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw; Other: vae paa (Samoa) Heliconiaceae herb
Hemigraphis alternata English: metal leaf; red ivy; Other: suipi (American Samoa and Samoa) Acanthaceae herb

Hyptis capitata

English: knobweed Lamiaceae herb

Hyptis pectinata

English: comb hyptis, comb bushmint, mint weed, purple top; Other: vao mini (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Indigofera suffruticosa English: indigo; Other: la‘au mageso (Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Ipomoea aquatica English: aquatic morning glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach, ung-choi, kang kong; Other: lili vai (Samoa) Convolvulaceae aquatic herb
Jatropha curcas English: physic nut, purging nut, Barbados nut; Other: laupata (Samoa) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Kyllinga brevifolia English: green kyllinga, green water sedge; Other: tuise (Samoa) Cyperaceae sedge

Kyllinga nemoralis

English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other: 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) Cyperaceae sedge
Kyllinga polyphylla English: Navua sedge; Other: tuise tele, tuise fiti (Samoa) Cyperaceae sedge
Lantana camara English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae shrub
Leucaena leucocephala English: leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree Other: fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa), lusina, pepe (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
*Ligustrum spp. English: privet Oleaceae shrubs/small trees
Macroptilium atropurpureum English: siratro, purple bushbean Fabaceae herb
**Merremia peltata English: merremia; Other: fue vae (American Samoa), fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa) Convolvulaceae vine

Mikania micrantha

English: mile-a-minute weed, Chinese creeper, American rope, bittervine; Other: fue saina (American Samoa and Samoa) Asteraceae vine

Mimosa diplotricha

English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; Other: vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa); la'au fefe palagi (Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Mimosa pudica English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; Other: vao fefe, vao tuitui, tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae herb
*Murraya paniculata English: orange jessamine, satin-wood, Chinese box, Hawaiian mock orange Rutaceae shrub/tree
*Nymphaea spp. English: water lily Nymphaeaceae herb
Ocimum gratissimum English: wild basil, clove basil, tree basil; Other: la’au sauga (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Odontonema tubaeforme English: fire spike, cardinal flower; Other: totoe (American Samoa and Samoa) Acanthaceae shrub
Panicum maximum English: Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss; Other: vao kini (American Samoa and Samoa) Poaceae grass
Paspalum conjugatum English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); Other: vaolima, (American Samoa and Samoa); vaolima matafao, vaolima papalagi (Samoa) Poaceae grass
Paspalum dilatatum English: paspalum, dallis grass, water grass Poaceae grass
Paspalum paniculatum English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass Poaceae grass

Passiflora foetida

English: love-in-a-mist, wild passion fruit, passionflower, stinking passionflower; Other: pasio vao (American Samoa and Samoa) Passifloraceae vine

Passiflora laurifolia

English: yellow granadilla, belle apple, yellow water-lemon; Other: pasio vao (Samoa) Passifloraceae vine

Passiflora ligularis

English: sweet granadilla, yellow passionfruit; French: granadille, grenadille douce, barbadine Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora suberosa English: wild passionfruit, devil's pumpkin, indigo berry, corky passionflower, corkstem passionflower Passifloraceae vine
Pennisetum purpureum English: elephant grass, napier grass, merker grass; Other: vao povi (Samoa) Poaceae grass
*Pinus caribaea English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina (Samoa) Pinaceae tree
Piper auritum English: eared pepper, anise piper, Veracruz pepper; Other: ‘ava Tonga (Samoa) Piperaceae shrub

Psidium cattleianum

English: strawberry guava, cherry guava, Cattley guava, Chinese guava; Other: ku‘ava (Samoa) Myrtaceae tree

Psidium guajava

English: guava; Other: ku‘ava (American Samoa and Samoa) Myrtaceae tree
Pueraria montana var. lobata English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: aka (American Samoa); a'a (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae vine
Ricinus communis English: castor bean, castor-oil plant; Other: lama palagi, lama papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Ruellia prostrata English: black weed, bell weed; Other: vao uli (American Samoa and Samoa) Acanthaceae herb

Saccharum spontaneum

English: wild cane, false sugarcane; Other: vao tolo (Samoa) Poaceae grass
Sacciolepis indica English: glenwood grass Poaceae grass
*Samanea saman English: monkeypod, rain tree, saman; Other: malapa (Samoa) Fabaceae tree

Sambucus mexicana

English: elderberry, Mexican elder Caprifoliaceae small tree

Sanchezia speciosa

English: sanchezia. Acanthaceae shrub
Sansevieria trifasciata English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue Agavaceae herb
*Schefflera actinophylla English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm 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; Other: fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Senna tora English: foetid cassia, stinking cassia, Java-bean, sickle senna, sicklepod, Chinese senna, peanut weed, sickle senna; Other: vao pinati (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Sesbania grandiflora English: sesbania, hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree, corkwood tree; Other: sepania (Samoa) Fabaceae small tree

Setaria palmifolia

English: palmgrass, short pitpit, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass; Other: vao ‘ofe‘ofe (Samoa) Poaceae grass

Setaria pumila

English: foxtail, garden bristle grass, hairy-tail grass, yellow bristlegrass Poaceae grass
Solanum torvum English: prickly solanum, devil's fig, turkeyberry, terongan; Other: lapiti (Samoa) Solanaceae shrub
Spathodea campanulata English: African tulip tree, fireball, fountain tree; Other: fa‘apasi (Samoa) Bignoniaceae tree
Sporobolus indicus English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Sphagneticola trilobata English: wedelia, trailing daisy, Singapore daisy, creeping ox-eye Asteraceae herb
Stachytarpheta cayennensis English: blue rat's tail, dark-blue snakeweed, false verbena, nettleleaf velvetberry; Other: mautofu tai, mautofu vao, mautofu fualanumoana (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae herb
Syngonium angustatum English: arrowhead plant, goosefoot plant Araceae vine
Syzygium jambos English: malabar plum, rose apple, Malay apple; Other: seasea papalagi (Samoa) Myrtaceae tree
Tecoma stans English: yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush Bignoniaceae small tree

Thevetia peruviana

English: yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut Apocynaceae small tree

Thunbergia alata

English: black-eyed susan vine Acanthaceae vine

Thunbergia fragrans

English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine Acanthaceae vine

Thunbergia grandiflora

English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: palulu (Samoa) Acanthaceae vine

Thunbergia laurifolia

English: purple allamanda, laurel-leaved thunbergia, laurel clock vine Acanthaceae vine
Tibouchina urvilleana English: glorybush, lasiandra, princess flower Melastomataceae herb
Tithonia diversifolia English: tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower Asteraceae shrub
*Tradescantia spathacea English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat Commelinaceae herb
*Tradescantia zebrina English:  wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant Commelinaceae herb
Triumfetta rhomboidea English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other: mautofu, mautofu vao (American Samoa and Samoa) Tiliaceae shrub
Urochloa subquadripara English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Poaceae grass

*Cultivated
**Native


Table 2. Species present on Savai‘i

Scientific Name

Common Names (abridged)

Family

Habit

Abelmoschus moschatus English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; Other: ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa) Malvaceae herb
Acacia auriculiformis English: Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle Fabaceae tree
Acacia mangium English: mangium, brown salwood, black wattle, hickory wattle Fabaceae tree
Adenanthera pavonina English: coral bean tree, red sandalwood tree, red bead tree, lopa, bead tree, false wiliwili, peacock flower-fence, Polynesian peanut; Other: lopa (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Albizia chinensis English: Chinese albizia, silktree; Other: tamaligi uliuli, tamaligi ena‘ena (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Aleurites moluccana English: candlenut, Indian walnut; Other: lama (American Samoa and Samoa); Euphorbiaceae tree

Allamanda cathartica

English: yellow trumpet vine, golden trumpet, allamanda, brownbud allamanda, golden allamanda, golden cup; Other: pua taunofo (American Samoa and Samoa) Apocynaceae shrub

Alpinia purpurata

English: red ginger; Other: teuila (Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb
*Anacardium occidentale English: cashew, cashew nut; Other: ‘apu ‘initia (Samoa) Anacardiaceae tree
*Annona muricata English: soursop, prickly custard apple; Other: sasalapa (Samoa) Annonaceae tree
*Asparagus setaceus English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa Liliaceae vine
Axonopus fissifolius English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass Poaceae grass
Bauhinia monandra English: orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon's plume Other: vae povi (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Bothriochloa bladhii English: blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem 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
Calopogonium mucunoides English: calopo Fabaceae vine
Canna indica English: canna, canna lily, Indian shot; Other: fanamanu, fagamanu, fa‘i masoa (American Samoa and Samoa) Cannaceae herb
Castilla elastica English: Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree; Other: pulu mamoe (American Samoa) Moraceae tree
Casuarina equisetifolia English: casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; Other: toa (American Samoa and Samoa) Casuarinaceae tree

Cedrela odorata

English: cigar box cedar, Mexican cedar, West Indian cedar, Spanish cedar, Barbados cedar Meliaceae tree

Ceiba pentandra

English: kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, pacae; Other:  vavae (American Samoa and Samoa) Bombacaceae tree
Cenchrus echinatus English: burgrass, sand-bur, southern sandbur, Mossman River grass (Australia); Other: tuitui, vao tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa) Poaceae grass
Chloris barbata Poaceae grass
Cinnamomum verum English: cinnamon tree; Other: tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) Lauraceae tree
Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax English: red clerodendrum, pagoda-flower Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum paniculatum English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower Verbenaceae shrub

Clerodendrum quadriloculare

English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: losa, losa Fiti (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae shrub
Clidemia hirta English: Koster’s curse, soap bush; Other: la‘au lau mamoe (Samoa) Melastomataceae shrub
Cordia alliodora English: laurel, Ecuador laurel, salmwood, Spanish elm; Other: kotia (Samoa) Boraginaceae tree
Costus speciosus English: crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed Zingiberaceae herb
Crotalaria micans English: crotalaria Fabaceae shrub

Cyperus involucratus

English: umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass Cyperaceae sedge

Cyperus rotundus

English: nut grass, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, cocograss; Other: mumuta (Samoa) Cyperaceae sedge
Dieffenbachia seguine English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane Araceae herb
Digitaria ciliaris English: Henry's crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, tropical crab grass, large crab grass, southern crabgrass, fingergrass, summer grass Poaceae grass
Dissotis rotundifolia English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady Melastomataceae herb
*Duranta erecta English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower Verbenaceae shrub
Elaeocarpus angustifolius English: blue fig, blue marble tree, quandong (Australia); Other: sapatua, siapoatua, siapatua (American Samoa and Samoa) Elaeocarpaceae tree
Eleusine indica English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow's foot, bullgrass; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa) Poaceae grass

Ficus elastica

English: India rubber tree, rubber plant Moraceae tree
Flacourtia rukam English: Indian plum, Indian prune, governor's plum; Other: filimoto (American Samoa and Samoa) Flacourtiaceae tree

Flemingia macrophylla

Fabaceae tree
Funtumia elastica English: African rubber tree, silkrubber; Other: pulu vao (Samoa) Apocynaceae tree
Furcraea foetida English: Mauritius hemp, sisal, maguey, giant cabuya Agavaceae succulent
Hedychium coronarium English: white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower; Other: teuila paepae (American Samoa and Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb
Heliconia spp. English: heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw; Other: vae paa (Samoa) Heliconiaceae herb
Hevea brasiliensis English: hevea, Brazilian rubber tree, Para rubber tree Euphorbiaceae tree

Hyptis capitata

English: knobweed Lamiaceae herb

Hyptis pectinata

English: comb hyptis, comb bushmint, mint weed, purple top; Other: vao mini (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Indigofera suffruticosa English: indigo; Other: la‘au mageso (Samoa) Fabaceae shrub

Kyllinga nemoralis

English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other: 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) Cyperaceae sedge
Kyllinga polyphylla English: Navua sedge; Other: tuise tele, tuise fiti (Samoa) Cyperaceae sedge
Lantana camara English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae shrub
Leucaena leucocephala English: leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree Other: fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa), lusina, pepe (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
**Merremia peltata English: merremia; Other: fue vae (American Samoa), fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa) Convolvulaceae vine
Merremia tuberosa English: wood rose, Spanish arborvine, yellow morning-glory Convolvulaceae vine

Mikania micrantha

English: mile-a-minute weed, Chinese creeper, American rope, bittervine; Other: fue saina (American Samoa and Samoa) Asteraceae vine

Mimosa diplotricha

English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; Other: vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa); la'au fefe palagi (Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Mimosa pudica English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; Other: vao fefe, vao tuitui, tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae herb
Ocimum gratissimum English: wild basil, clove basil, tree basil; Other: la’au sauga (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Odontonema tubaeforme English: fire spike, cardinal flower; Other: totoe (American Samoa and Samoa) Acanthaceae shrub
Panicum maximum English: Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss; Other: vao kini (American Samoa and Samoa) Poaceae grass
Paspalum conjugatum English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); Other: vaolima, (American Samoa and Samoa); vaolima matafao, vaolima papalagi (Samoa) Poaceae grass
Paspalum paniculatum English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass Poaceae grass

Passiflora foetida

English: love-in-a-mist, wild passion fruit, passionflower, stinking passionflower; Other: pasio vao (American Samoa and Samoa) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora quadrangularis English: granadilla, giant granadilla; Other: pasio (Samoa) Passifloraceae vine
*Pinus caribaea English: Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other: paina (Samoa) Pinaceae tree
Piper auritum English: eared pepper, anise piper, Veracruz pepper; Other: ‘ava Tonga (Samoa) Piperaceae shrub
  English: Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, Cuban oregano Lamiaceae herb
Psidium guajava English: guava; Other: ku‘ava (American Samoa and Samoa) Myrtaceae tree
Pueraria montana var. lobata English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: aka (American Samoa); a'a (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae vine
Ricinus communis English: castor bean, castor-oil plant; Other: lama palagi, lama papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Ruellia prostrata English: black weed, bell weed; Other: vao uli (American Samoa and Samoa) Acanthaceae herb
Sacciolepis indica English: glenwood grass Poaceae grass
*Samanea saman English: monkeypod, rain tree, saman; Other: malapa (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Sambucus mexicana English: elderberry, Mexican elder Caprifoliaceae small tree
Sansevieria trifasciata English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue Agavaceae herb
Senna alata English: candle bush; candelabra bush, Roman candle tree, emperor's candlesticks, ringworm bush (Australia), alcapulco; Other: fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Senna tora English: foetid cassia, stinking cassia, Java-bean, sickle senna, sicklepod, Chinese senna, peanut weed, sickle senna; Other: vao pinati (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Sesbania grandiflora English: sesbania, hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree, corkwood tree; Other: sepania (Samoa) Fabaceae small tree
Setaria pumila English: foxtail, garden bristle grass, hairy-tail grass, yellow bristlegrass Poaceae grass
Solanum capsicoides English: cockroach berry, devil’s apple, soda apple Solanaceae herb
Sphagneticola trilobata English: wedelia, trailing daisy, Singapore daisy, creeping ox-eye Asteraceae herb
Stachytarpheta cayennensis English: blue rat's tail, dark-blue snakeweed, false verbena, nettleleaf velvetberry; Other: mautofu tai, mautofu vao, mautofu fualanumoana (American Samoa and Samoa) Verbenaceae herb
Syngonium angustatum English: arrowhead plant, goosefoot plant Araceae vine
Tecoma stans English: yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush Bignoniaceae small tree
Tephrosia candida English: white tephrosia, white hoary-pea Fabaceae shrub
Thevetia peruviana English: yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut Apocynaceae small tree
Thunbergia fragrans English: white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine Acanthaceae vine
Tithonia diversifolia English: tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower Asteraceae shrub
Toona ciliata English: Australian red cedar, toon, surian, Indian mahogany; Other: tuna (Samoa) Meliaceae tree
*Tradescantia spathacea English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat Commelinaceae herb
*Tradescantia zebrina English:  wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant Commelinaceae herb
Triumfetta rhomboidea English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other: mautofu, mautofu vao (American Samoa and Samoa) Tiliaceae shrub
Urochloa subquadripara English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Poaceae grass

*Cultivated
**Native


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This page revised 22 April 2006