Lindernia nummulariifolia (D. Don) Wettst., Linderniaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Vandellia nummulariifolia D. Don

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: kuan ye mu cao

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annuals, 1-15 cm tall. Roots fibrous. Stems erect, subquadrangular, sparsely spreading hairy on angles. Leaf blade broadly ovate to orbicular-ovate, 5-12 x 4-8 mm, abaxially glabrous or sparsely hairy only on midrib, base broadly cuneate to cordate, margin shallowly crenate to undulate or acuminate toothed, apex obtuse; veins parallel from base. Inflorescences terminal or axillary subumbels, few flowered. Central flowers sessile or short pedicelled, cleistogamous; other flowers on pedicels ca. 2 cm, sometimes sterile. Calyx ca. 3 mm, lobed to middle or 2/3 of length; lobes ovate to lanceolate-ovate. Corolla violet, rarely blue or white, ca. 7 mm; lower lip spreading flat, 3-lobed; upper lip ovate. Filaments of anterior stamens basally small appendaged. Capsule narrowly ellipsoid, ca. 2 X as long as persistent calyx, apex acuminate. Seeds brown"  (Flora of China online).

"Sprawling or semiprostrate herb...; slender branches minutely pilose on angles; petioles short, mostly 1-2 mm long, the leaf blades ovate to suborbicular, to 2.5 x 2.2 cm, serrate; flowers axillary, solitary, sparse, the pedicels very short, to 1 (-3) mm long; calyx 5-9 mm long, the lobes as long as tube or slightly longer, lanceolate to linear-subulate, with stiff antrorse hairs on margins; corolla 6-8 mm long, white, the upper lip purplish-tinged, the lower lip with yellow hairs; stamens 4, white, all fertile; capsule oblong-cylindric, 8-12 mm long" (Smith, 1991; pp. 80-81).

Habitat/ecology:  In China (native), "edge of rice fields, along streams, wet places; below 1800 m" (Flora of China online).  In Fiji, "occurring from near sea level to about 850 m as a naturalized weed in villages and plantations or on clay banks or forest floor" (Smith, 1991; pp. 80-81).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Subtropical Himalayas, India, and Ceylon to Malesia, adventive in other areas such as Fiji." (Smith, 1991; pp. 80-81)).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 80-81) Vouchers cited: Smith 9621, DA 14211, Greenwood 1001, DA 11473, DA 6039, Vaughan 3364
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 267) Voucher cited: BRY 25964

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Edge of rice fields, along streams, wet places; below 1800 m. Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 55) Naturalised
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Lindernia nummulariifolia, please let us know.