Cordia curassavica (N. Jacquin) J. Roemer & J. A. Schultes, Boraginaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Cordia macrostachya (Jacquin) Roemer & Schultes

Common name(s): [more details]

English: black sage, herbe condé, wild sage

French: mahot noir

Spanish: orégano-cimarrón

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "…a much-branched odorous shrub 1-3 m tall. Branching occurs mainly at the base of the plant. The ovate leaves are 5-10 cm long with pointed tips, and are greyish green and rough on the upper surface but paler and finely and softly hairy below. The white flowers are about 5 mm across and develop sequentially along erect spikes at the tips of the stems, and are followed by red fleshy fruits about 5 mm across with a single stony seed" (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 31).

Habitat/ecology:  Dense thickets can prevent regeneration or crowd out other vegetation (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 31).

Propagation:  Bird-dispersed seeds. "Seedlings germinate in well-lit disturbed areas and grow quickly" (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 31).

Native range:  Mexico, Central America, West Indies, South America; naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Kalimantan Naturalized
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Pallawatta, Nirmalie/Reaser, Jamie K./Gutierrez, Alixis T./eds. (2003) (p. 49)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Chiapas, Veracruz
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

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 invasive	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (pp. 31, 111)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Control: 

Chemical: "Pending the results of field trials plants should be cut back close to ground level and allowed to regrow to between 50 and 80 cm tall. The regrowth should then be sprayed with 2% Roundup plus Pulse" (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 31).

Biological: A seed-attacking eurytomid wasp (Eurytoma attiva Burks) and a defoliating chrysomelid beetle (Metrogaleruca obscura Degeer) are effective for control (Julien, 1992; pp. 61-62; Swarbrick, 1997; p. 31).  Also see "Biological control of Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) R. & S. in Malysia by Schematiza cordiae Barb. (Coleop: Galerucidae)" by S. H. Ung, A. Yunus and W. H. Chin.