Breynia vitis-idaea (Burm.f.) C.E.C.Fisch., Phyllanthaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 2 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Breynia vitis-idaea)

Other Latin names:  Breynia rhamnoides (Retz.) Muell.Arg.; Phyllanthus rhamnoides Retz.; Rhamnus vitis-idaea Burm. f.; (more synonyms)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Indian snowberry, mountain coffee bush

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Erect shrubs to 3 m tall, glabrous throughout, much branched; branches terete, slender. Stipules ovate-triangular, ca. 1.5-2 mm; petiole 2-3 mm; leaf blade elliptic (rarely ovate or broadly ovate), 2-5 &mult; 1.5-3 cm, membranous, distichous, abaxially pruinose-green or glaucous, adaxially green, base obtuse, apex acute; midvein and 5-7 pairs lateral veins flattened adaxially, elevated abaxially. Flowers small, green, solitary or several in axillary racemes. Male flowers: pedicels slender, 2.5-4 mm; sepals 6, broadly ovate, ca. 2 mm, subtruncate at apex; stamens 3, connate into capitate column. Female flowers solitary; pedicels 3-4 mm, not lengthening in fruit; sepals as in male, but shorter, 1-2 mm, not enlarged in fruit; ovary ovoid; stigmas short, ca. 0.25 mm, free, undivided. Fruiting pedicel 3-4 mm; fruits ovoid, compressed at apex, 3.5-5 &mult; 4-5 mm, apex sometimes obscurely beaked, without apical rim, red and turning black-purple when fully mature, drying shiny brown. Seeds 3-4.5 &mult; 1.8-2.5 &mult; 1.7-2.5 mm, yellow-brown. Fl. Mar-Sep, fr. May-Dec [elsewhere fl. and fr. ± year-round]. n = 16." (Flora of China)

Habitat/ecology:  "Montane slopes, scrub; 100-1000 m." Flora of China)

"Montane slopes and scrub at elevations of 100-1,000 metres in southern China [266]. Forest edges and clearings in evergreen forest, mangrove, swamp forest, bamboo thickets, along rivers and roads and near the beach, up to 800 metres [310]." Useful Tropical Plants)

Propagation:  Although no information was found by PIER regarding propagation of this species, horticultural propagation methods for a similar species (Breynia disticha) are noted by contributors to Dave's Garden as follows: propagation methods: woody stem cuttings, softwood cuttings, semi-hardwood cuttings; seed collection: allow pods to dry on plant & break open to collect seeds; remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing; allow unblemished fruit to ripen, then clean and dry seeds. (Dave's Garden)

Native range:  China, tropical Asia (GRIN)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  If you know of other invaded habitats or impacts, please let us know.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Flora of Pakistan (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " India (E. & S. from the Gangetic Plain) eastwards to Formosa, the Ryu-Kyu Is., the Philippines and W. Malesia, where it gives way to Breynia cernua (Poir.) Well. Arg."
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Asia Asia	Laos	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia	Laos		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia	Laos		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Asia Asia	Myanmar	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia	Myanmar		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Asia Asia	Nepal	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia	Nepal		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia	Nepal		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Asia Asia	Pakistan	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia	Pakistan		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Asia Asia (Pacific rim)	Bangladesh	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Asia Asia (Pacific rim)	Bangladesh		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Asia Asia (Pacific rim)	Malesia		Flora of Pakistan (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " India (E. & S. from the Gangetic Plain) eastwards to Formosa, the Ryu-Kyu Is., the Philippines and W. Malesia, where it gives way to Breynia cernua (Poir.) Well. Arg."
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Kew Gardens (year unknown) accessed 20181004
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Indonesia Sunda Islands	Sumatra	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Japan Japan	Japan		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands		Flora of Pakistan (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " India (E. & S. from the Gangetic Plain) eastwards to Formosa, the Ryu-Kyu Is., the Philippines and W. Malesia, where it gives way to Breynia cernua (Poir.) Well. Arg."
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Kew Gardens (year unknown) accessed 20181004, lectotype
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Formosa		Flora of Pakistan (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " India (E. & S. from the Gangetic Plain) eastwards to Formosa, the Ryu-Kyu Is., the Philippines and W. Malesia, where it gives way to Breynia cernua (Poir.) Well. Arg."
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island		Kew Gardens (year unknown) accessed 20181004, lectotype, syntype, etc.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Kew Gardens (year unknown) accessed 20181004
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)		Kew Gardens (year unknown) accessed 20181004
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
India India	India (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20181001
India India	India (Republic of)		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001
India India	India (Republic of)		Kew Gardens (year unknown) accessed 20181004
India India	India (Republic of)		Flora of Pakistan (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " India (E. & S. from the Gangetic Plain) eastwards to Formosa, the Ryu-Kyu Is., the Philippines and W. Malesia, where it gives way to Breynia cernua (Poir.) Well. Arg."
India India	India (Republic of)		Flora of China (year unknown) accessed 20181004, " Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. Plants from E China (Fujian and Taiwan) and Japan are here included in the previous species, Breynia officinalis."
United States of America United States	United States		Global Biodiversity Information Facility (year unknown) accessed 20181001

Control:  If you know of control methods for Breynia vitis-idaea, please let us know.