Cupaniopsis anacardioides (A.Rich.) Radlk., Sapindaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))
Reject (based on second screen), score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S. (Florida)))

Other Latin names:  Cupania anacardioides A. Rich.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: beach-tamarind, carrotwood, cashew-leaf cupania, green-leaf-tamarind, tuckeroo

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Small tree, young parts, petioles, petiolules, peduncles pubescent. Petioles 3-7 cm long; leaflets 5-11; petiolules 2-7 mm long; leaflet blades elliptic, obovate or oblong, apex broad, retuse, base cuneate, margin entire, 5.5-19 cm X 2.5-6.5 cm, shining, glabrous above, pale, glabrous or puberulent below, lateral nerves spreading, parallel. Panicles 8-25 cm long, pedicels up to 2.5 mm long; outer calyx lobes 2.5 mm long, inner 3-4 mm long, puberulent; petals 1.5-3 mm long; stamens 8. Capsules yellow, subglobose, 3-furrowed and 3-ribbed, apiculate, 1.5 cm X 1.5 cm, shortly stipitate, valves thick, wrinkled and puberulent outside, densely rusty tomentose inside; seeds almost enclosed by red-orange aril" (Stanley and Ross, 1983; vol. 1, p. 512).

Habitat/ecology:  "Mangrove forests, cypress swamps, tropical hammocks, coastal dunes and forests.  Native habitats include coastal areas, lowland to upland rain forests, woodland and riverine forests.  The tree is fast growing, salt-tolerant, grows in full sun and shade, and is adapted to poor soils.  Where invasive, it forms dense thickets that crowd out native vegetation.  Seedlings and saplings can reach high densities and alter the understorey habitat"  (Weber, 2003; p. 129).

In its native range (Australia), widespread in depauperate rainforests, on creek banks and on coastal dunes (Stanley and Ross, 1983; vol. 1, p. 512). Salt-tolerant. In the US (Florida), invades both disturbed and undisturbed areas and forms dense thickets, crowding out native vegetation (Randall et al., 1996; p. 31).

Propagation:  Seed, spread by birds.

Native range:  Australia, New Guinea (GRIN).

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	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 29)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (2011) (p. 32) East Maui. Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 090819-01 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2010) (pp. 15-16) Voucher cited: D. Frohlich & A. Lau 2008020801 (BISH)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

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)	New South Wales	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Western Australia
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

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)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Hunsberger, 2001).

Control: 

Physical: Hand-pull seedlings.

Chemical: Basal bark application of a triclopyr herbicide mixed with an oil diluent works well (Randall et al., 1996; p. 31).  Cut trees and treat the cut stumps with glyphosate or triclopyr (Weber, 2003; p. 129).