Quisqualis indica L., Combretaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: shi jun zi

English: Chinese honeysuckle, Rangoon creeper, quisqualis

Spanish: quiscual

Tongan: kaloni kakala

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Ligneous vine to 2.5 m long or more; petioles 3-10 mm long, these curved with display of blades; petioles 6-8 mm long; leaf blades 3.5-15 cm long, 1.5-5.5 cm wide, elliptic to oblong or ovate to lanceolate, rather abruptly acuminate apically, obtuse to rounded basally; flowers in panicles 10-15 cm long, on peduncles 2-6 cm long; bracts lance-subulate; hypanthium 3-6 (7) cm long, brightly colored; calyx lobes 1.5-2.5 mm long; petals opening white, turning red, 8-16 mm long; fruit 30-35 mm long, 10-12 mm thick, ovate-elliptic in profile, 5-winged, uncommonly produced" (Welsh, 1998; p. 64).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Caledonia, "assez commun dans les jardins" (MacKee, 1994; p. 29). In Sri Lanka, "along primary forest margins and in secondary forest and woodlands, and alongside riverbanks from sea-level up to c. 100 m" (Dassanayake, 1983; pp. 31-32).  Persisting and weedy around old settlements in Northern Territory, Australia (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 127).  In Papua New Guinea, "a large climber found along the margins of primary forest, along river banks or in secondary forest; probably native to Papuasia, but it could have been introduced"  (Womersley, 1978; p. 51).

Propagation:  Seed, often water-dispersed. "It spreads by root suckers as well as by seed" (Flora of Australia, Vol. 50).

Native range:  Africa to southeast Asia, Malesia, China and Taiwan; widely cultivated and naturalized in the tropics (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 70)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 185)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 79)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1980) (p. 207) Voucher cited: Falanruw 3355 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 490184) Taxon name on voucher: Quisqualis indica L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 416-417) Voucher cited: Smith 6875
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 147758) Taxon name on voucher: Quisqualis indica L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 416-417) Voucher cited: DA 12327
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 15111) Taxon name on voucher: Quisqualis indica L.
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 64) Voucher cited: Moore 317
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 64) Vouchers cited: Florence 2616, BRY 25447, BRY 26311
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2616 (PAP) Ornementale commune.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492775) Taxon name on voucher: Quisqualis indica L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 50)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 20)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 82)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (pp. 115-116) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58790 (US), Thaman & Manner 113 (SUVA)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 29) Vouchers cited: Däniker 2686, Green 1300 (NOU), MacKee 11926, Nasi in MacKee 40111, Suprin 1573 (NOU), Suprin in MacKee 43069 Spontané
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 60) Voucher cited: CHR 169744
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 89) Voucher cited: Yuncker 9966 (BISH)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 46)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 16, 86)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 19)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 16, 82)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 401) Abundant, particularly on damp soil; behind the beach, on the banks of streams and ponds.
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)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	probably native	Womersley, John S., ed. (1978) (p. 51)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 154) In thickets and secondary forests; sometimes planted for its fragrant flowers.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1973) (voucher ID: BISH 417454) Taxon name on voucher: Quisqualis indica L.
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 200) "Occasional about dwellings in Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41373) Taxon name on voucher: Quisqualis indica L.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (p. 31)

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)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 127) Persisting and weedy.
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 168)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 186)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 74) Casual
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist 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	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 17) Vouchers cited: 1898, C.W. Andrews (K); D.A. Powell 660 (K); B.A. Mitchell 213 (CBG, K)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Cousin Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 29) Voucher cited: Fosberg 52132 (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Quisqualis indica, please let us know.