Cleome viscosa L., Cleomaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Arivela viscosa (L.) Raf.; Polanisia viscosa DC.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: monggos-paluma, mongos-paloma, mungus paluma

English: Asian spiderflower, cleome, tickweed, wild mustard, yellow cleome

French: acaya jaune, brède caya, collant, mouzambé jaune

Japanese: hime-futyoso

Pohnpeian: kuh kuhiolung, kuh yolung

Spanish: barba de chivo, frijolillo, jitomate, malva pegajosa, plantanillo, sambo, tabaquillo

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Strict or considerably branched annual 2-16 dm tall, densely glandular-pubescent throughout, unarmed; petioles 1-6 cm long, exstipulate; leaflets 3-5, oblanceolate-elliptic, acute to obtuse at apex, cuneate to attenuate at base, the central leaflets 1-6 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, entire, densely glandular-ciliate, petiolules 1-3 mm long; flowers relatively few, solitary in axils of upper leaves; pedicels 5-23 mm long; sepals free, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate-elliptic, acuminate, 5-10 mm long, 1-4 mm wide, deciduous; petals pale to deep yellow or orange-yellow, obovate to spatulate, rounded at apex, gradually attenuate to base, 6-14 mm long, 3-5 mm wide; disk obsolete; stamens 10-26, included, the filaments 5-8 mm long, 4-10 of the adaxial shorter than others and slightly clavate; anthers 2-3 mm long; ovary cylindric, densely glandular-pubescent, sessile; style about 1 mm long at anthesis, to 6 mm long in fruit; stigmas capitate; mature fruits linear-cylindric, attenuate toward apex, sessile, 2-4 mm broad, 3-10 cm long, erect or strongly ascending, glandular-pubescent, the valves longitudinally striate and dull without, lustrous within; seeds obovoid-reniform, 1.2-1.8 mm long, dark reddish brown, strikingly rugulose transversely with about 30 rugae, these again minutely transversely rugulose"  (Wiggins & Porter, 1971; pp. 547-548).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "often locally abundant as a naturalized weed near sea level in cultivated fields, along roadsides, and especially in canefields" (Smith, 1981; pp. 700-701).  "Common as a weed of disturbed places in Samoa, uncommon on Niue" (Whistler, 1988; p. 8). Arid lowlands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p 200). In Papua New Guinea, "mostly a roadside plant, but sometimes invading pasture; rarely troublesome in cultivation" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 60).

Propagation:  Sticky seeds.

Native range:  Old World, probably indigenous in Asia, now pantropical (Smith, 1981; pp. 700-701).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Falanruw 1948 (US) Occasional on rocky beach.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 58) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-59203
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 32)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1977) (p. 29) Voucher cited: Falanruw 3044 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 335) Taxon name on voucher: Cleome viscosa
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Española Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Darwin, Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Pinta Group	Pinta Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Baltra Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 76) Vouchers cited: F.R. Fosberg 58444 (BISH), F.R. Fosberg 58530 (BISH), N.L.H. Krauss 1896b (BISH), D.H. Lorence 9992 (PTBG), P. Raynor 163 (NY, PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 43757) Taxon name on voucher: Cleome viscosa
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 700-702) Voucher cited: DA 11522
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 700-702) Voucher cited: DA 10516
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 700-702) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 197, DA 10331, DA 11154, DA 10690, DA 10440, O. & I. Degener 32048, DA 9752, Greenwood 197A, DA 5679, DA 10822, DA 1051
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4091 (PAP), J. Florence 7232 (PAP), J. Florence 8515 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 31) One plant at the edge of a field. Voucher cited: Fosberg 64857 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3385 (PAP), J. Florence 10340 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2267 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Raro‘ia Atoll	introduced	Doty, Maxwell S. (1954) (p. 37)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 286)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 85)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1966) (voucher ID: PTBG 22853) Taxon name on voucher: Cleome viscosa
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1945) (voucher ID: PTBG 30900) Taxon name on voucher: Cleome viscosa
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 13) Voucher: Imada 2003-34 (BISH 697649)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 112) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58653 (US), Scully 125N (US), Thaman & Manner 45 (SUVA), Thaman & Manner 22310 (SUVA), Swarbrick 9542 (BRIU), Swarbrick 9572 (BRIU)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 27) Voucher cited: MacKee 18384
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 57) Vouchers cited: CHR 168859, CHR 168860
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 8) Uncommon
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 100)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	New Britain Island	possibly introduced invasive	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 196) Widespread weed.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 60) At low altitudes.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 278) Taxon name on voucher: Cleome viscosa
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 8)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Guadalcanal Island	introduced invasive	Orapa, Warea (2005)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 90)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 58)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 120)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Hafliger, Toni J./Wolf, Matthias (1988) (p. 120)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 109)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 183)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 27) Naturalised
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 64, 76)

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	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 16)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Rivers, Julie (2004) (p. 3)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 19)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 91)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 116)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Coetivy Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 147)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Cousin Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Fosberg 52185 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 47) Voucher cited: Todd 20
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
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) AL, GA, LA, MD, NJ, PA, VA
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Cleome viscosa, please let us know.