Rivina humilis L., Phytolaccaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Rivina laevis L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: shu zhu shan hu

English: baby pepper, bloodberry, coral berry, pigeonberry, rouge plant

French: groseille, petite groseille

Spanish: coralito

Tongan: polo

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Plants 4-10 dm tall, rarely taller.  Leaves usually widely spaced, 4-12 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, both surfaces glabrous or puberulent especially along veins, petioles 1-3.5 cm long, usually puberulent along upper surface.  Racemes 7-15 cm long, pedicels 2-3 mm long in anthesis, elongating up to ca. 4 mm long and recurved in fruit, bract ca. 1-2 mm long, more or less caducous, bracteoles ca. 0.2-0.3 mm long; sepals white or pink, oblong, ca. 2-3 mm long.  Fruit orange, red or purple, subglobose, ca. 4 mm in diameter.  Seed ca. 2.5-3.5 mm in diameter, puberulent"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1016-1017, 1887).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry to mesic, shaded, disturbed areas, 10-130 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1016-1017).  Shade tolerant (Motooka et al., 2003).  In Fiji, "occurring near sea level along roadsides, in fields, pastures, gardens, etc., sometimes locally frequent in shady places" (Smith, 1981; pp. 261-262). In Tonga, "a weedy plant of waste areas" (Yuncker, 1959; pp. 110-111). In New Caledonia, "cette espèce est souvent commune et complètement intégrée à la végétation naturelle, surtout près du littoral" (MacKee, 1994; p. 114). In Australia, "it usually grows along the edges of rainforest in clearings or other shaded places on the coastal belt" (Kleinschmidt & Johnson, 1987, cited in Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 194).

Propagation:  Seed, spread by birds.

Native range:  Tropical America, now widely naturalized in Indo-Malesia and the Pacific (Smith, 1981; pp. 261-262).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 10) "naturalised in one or two localities". Vouchers cited: W.R. Sykes NI 217 (CHR), P.S. Green 1453 (A), R.D. Hoogland 11143 (CANB)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Alcedo, Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela 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)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 261-262) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 823A, DA 10275, DA 11416, Greenwood 823, DA 9780, DA 10666, DA 12169
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 33795) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 326-327)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 326-327)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 213) Vouchers cited: BRY 25959, Florence 2775
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 326-327)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2775 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492173) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1016-1017)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1016-1017)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Meidell, J. Scott/Oppenheimer, H. L./Bartlett, R. T. (1997) (p. 17) West Maui. Voucher cited: Meidell & Oppenheimer 112 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 28) East Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H50608 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 18) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H110135 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1016-1017)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced invasive	Toyoda, Takeshi (2003) (p. 286) Naturalized
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 114) Vouchers cited: Däniker 2421, Veillon 4160 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 114) Voucher cited: Sarasin 884
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 114) Voucher cited: MacKee 45876
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382) Souvent commune et complètement intégrée à la végétation naturelle, surtout près du littoral.
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 168961) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Améré	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 114) Voucher cited: MacKee 37529
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 114) Vouchers cited: Cribs 754, MacKee 1993, Denizot s.n., MacKee 21850, MacKee 22798, Azais in MacKee 34870, Boulet in MacKee 37463
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 596101) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1982) (voucher ID: PTBG 32564) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 114) Vouchers cited: Pancher 636, Corbasson in MacKee 19462
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 134-135) Occasional in waste places about Manila; a recent introduction which may not perisist.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 110-111) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15845
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Nomuka Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 168962) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 110-111) "Probably on all of the islands".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 62)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 110-111) Cited: Lister.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 600267) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Fafa Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41322) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 56)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 110-111) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15093
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 41178) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 41192) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 168963) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Velitoa Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 77948) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Velitoa Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 77952) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Tuvalu Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Aneityum Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1886) (voucher ID: BISH 523783) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Êfaté (Efete) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1971) (voucher ID: BISH 406170) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Malakula (Malekula) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 628515) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Malakula (Malekula) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 30343) Taxon name on voucher: Rivinia humilis L.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Tanna Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 415778) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)

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	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 194)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 194)
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)	El Salvador (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)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Cultivated, possibly escaped as a weed around houses or rubbish heaps".
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 181)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	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. 75) Naturalised
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)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	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) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (pp. 37, 39) On both main atoll and North Keeling Island.
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 150) Vouchers cited: Stoddart 769 (K, US), Stoddart 766 (K), Stoddart 877 (K, US), Stoddart 848 (K, US), Rhyne 775 (US)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 29)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 38074) Taxon name on voucher: Rivina humilis L.
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Naturalisé/±envahissant"
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 131) Voucher cited: Stoddart 7238b (US)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control: 

Chemical: "Sensitive to MCPA and triclopyr but re-treatment probably needed"  (Motooka et al., 2003).