Breynia disticha J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Phyllanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk, score: -5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Breynia nivosa (W. Bull) Small; Phyllanthus nivosus W. G. Sm.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: foliage-flower, leaf-flower of the Pacific Islands, snowbush, snowbush breynia, summer snow, sweetpea bush

Maori (Cook Islands): kāpaiē, kāvaiē, maemae

Nauruan: eomonon

Pohnpeian: katuk

Spanish: arbolito de Navidad

Tongan: pepe

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Monoecious shrubs or small trees, glabrous throughout, the stipules small; leaves along main branches spirally arranged and reduced, distichous along ultimate branchlets, short-petiolate, simple, the blades entire; inflorescences axillary, the lower axils bearing fascicles of 3-many male flowers, the higher axils bearing solitary female flowers, the flowers lacking petals and disk; male flowers with the calyx fleshy, obovoid-turbinate, shortly 6-lobed, the stamens 3, the filaments connate into a column bearing 2-locular anthers apically, these not apiculate; female flowers with the calyx campanulate to cupuliform, 6-lobed or "toothed, persistent and sometimes accrescent, the ovary 3-locular, the walls thickened distally, each locule with 2 ovules, the stigmas small, subulate-dentiform, incurved; fruit a capsule dehiscing into 2-seeded cocci, the seeds with a somewhat fleshy testa, ventrally invaginated.

"As seen in Fiji, this attractive cultivated plant is a shrub to 2 m high, with the distal leaves mottled with green, white, pale pink and purple, found in or near villages and towns near sea level.  The male calyx is greenish yellow, the female calyx white with green markings, the filament column white, and the anthers pale yellow" (Smith, 1981; pp. 466-467).

"Shrubs, 0.5–3 m. Leaves on main stems spiral. Leaves on ultimate branchlets distichous; petiole 2–4 mm; blade elliptic to ovate or suborbiculate, 1.5–4 × 1–3 cm, base obtuse to rounded, apex rounded. Pedicels: staminate 6–9 mm, pistillate 3–9 mm. Staminate flowers: calyx top-shaped, truncate, 1.5–3 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals obovate, 1–5 mm. Capsules 5 mm diam., smooth. Seeds brown, 2–3 mm. 2n = 52 (Jamaica). ¶Flowering and fruiting summer. Disturbed sites; 0–10 m; introduced; Fla.; Pacific Islands; introduced also in West Indies, Indian Ocean Islands. ¶Breynia disticha, native to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, is widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas and occasionally becomes naturalized. In the flora area, it is limited to scattered counties in southern Florida. Most plants are cultivars with variegated leaves in various shades of green, white, red, and pink; naturalized populations may revert to uniformly green leaves. The calyx typically reproduces the colors of the leaves, sometimes even being variegated." (Flora of North America)

Habitat/ecology:  "Espèce généralement trouvée dans la végétation buissonnante à basse altitude; spontanée aussi au Vanuatu. Formes à feuilles blanches ou roses, largement cultivées comme arbuste ornemental." (McPherson, 1991; pp. 16-18). (translation [Google]: "Species generally found in low bushy vegetation; also spontaneous in Vanuatu. White or pink leaf forms, widely grown as an ornamental shrub.")

Propagation:  Seed? Has a tendency to sucker profusely.

Native range:  China and southeastern Asia through Malesia to Australia, New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, now widely cultivated throughout the tropics (Smith, 1981; pp. 466-467).

Impacts and invaded habitats:  In Hawai‘i, "widely cultivated as a hedge plant. It has become naturalized by spreading vegetatively via root suckers where formerly planted around abandoned homesites on Maui and Kauai" (Lorence et al., 1995; p. 35).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 45) Cultivated ornamental. Voucher cited: Yuncker 9195 (BISH)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Manihiki Atoll	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Pukapuka Atoll	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Suwarrow (Taka) Atoll	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) var. nivosa
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) var. nivosa
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) var. nivosa
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) var. nivosa
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 22)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 120) Voucher cited: M.J. Balick 3911 (NY)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 466-467) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 727, 727B; Smith 9623, Degener & Ordonez 13667, Meebold 16893
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 40) Voucher cited: Fosberg 64877 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 102) Voucher cited: Moore 198
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 102) Vouchers cited: BRY 24818, Grant 4337, Florence 2863
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2863 (PAP) Ornementale utilisée comme haie.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Raro‘ia Atoll	introduced cultivated	Doty, Maxwell S. (1954) (p. 37)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'nivosa'. Voucher cited: J. Florence 5756 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'nivosa'. Voucher cited: J. Florence 6194 (PAP); also cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (1997) (p. 138)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) cv. 'Roseo-picta' Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 387)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 133)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Parker, James L./Parsons, Bobby (2012) (p. 67) Voucher cited: J. Parker & R. Parsons BIED119 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 35)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 35) East Maui. Voucher cited: T. Flynn & Sidler 2573 (BISH, PTBG)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Kiribati Line Islands	Tabuaeran (Fanning) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Wester, Lyndon (1985) (p. 25)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		Thaman, R. R. (1987) ?
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 133)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 100)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 91)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (pp. 126-127)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 466-467)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	eFloras (Flora of North America) (year unknown) accessed 20180701 ("native to New Caledonia and Vanuatu")
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	native cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 50) Cv. Roseopicta; vouchers cited: Soudot in MacKee 25315, MacKee 27728
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1983) (voucher ID: PTBG 31446) Taxon name on voucher: Breynia disticha
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 86) Voucher cited: CHR 169719
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 72) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9580 (BISH)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 14) Possibly naturalizing.
Pacific Pacific	Pacific islands	introduced cultivated	eFloras (Flora of North America) (year unknown) accessed 20180701 ("widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas and occasionally becomes naturalized")
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 100)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 133)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 96)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	‘Uiha Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 169) "Occasional as a hedge plant in villages".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 58)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 51)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 65)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	native	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 466-467)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	native	eFloras (Flora of North America) (year unknown) accessed 20180701 ("native to New Caledonia and Vanuatu")

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 178) As Breynia nivosa cv. Roseopicta
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 19) Cultivated only

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 107)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced	Williams, D. G. (1994) (p. 22)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 152) Voucher cited: Rhyne 617 (US)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (pp. 27, 33)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 37917) Taxon name on voucher: Breynia nivosa (Bull) Small
Indian Ocean islands Indian Ocean islands	Indian Ocean islands	introduced cultivated	eFloras (Flora of North America) (year unknown) accessed 20180701 ("widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas and occasionally becomes naturalized")
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll	cultivated	Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Fosberg 36877 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 121)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	West Indies	introduced cultivated	eFloras (Flora of North America) (year unknown) accessed 20180701 ("widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas and occasionally becomes naturalized")
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced cultivated	eFloras (Flora of North America) (year unknown) accessed 20180701 ("widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas and occasionally becomes naturalized. In the flora area, it is limited to scattered counties in southern Florida")

Control:  If you know of control methods for Breynia disticha, please let us know.