Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Rubus rosifolius
Sm., Rosaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 10 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: kong xin pao

English: Mauritius raspberry, roseleaf raspberry, thimbleberry

French: framboise, framboise marron, framboise pays, framboisier

Hawaiian: ākala, ākalakala, ōla‘a

Spanish: frambueso de Africa

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Erect to trailing shrub up to 2 m or more in height.  Stems pilose, sparsely covered with prickles 1-4 mm long.  Leaves alternate, pinnately compound, 7-18 cm long, with 3-7 leaflets, leaflet blades ovate to lanceolate, 1.5-8 x 0.8-3.5 cm, acuminate to acute at the apex, rounded to truncate at the base; surfaces pilose to nearly glabrous; margins doubly serrate; stipules filiform, 6-10 mm long.  Inflorescence mostly of solitary, terminal or axillary flowers on a pedicel 0.5-3 cm long.  Calyx of 5 lanceolate sepals 1.4-2.5 cm long, tomentose, apex long-attenuate.  Corolla of 5 white, obovate petals 1-2 cm long.  Stamens many, free.  Ovaries many.  Fruit a subglobose, red, multiple fruit 2-3.5 cm long, easily detaching from the receptacle" (Whistler, 1995; p. 123).

"Shrubs or subshrubs; stems erect, arching, or trailing, 10-20 dm long, moderately to sparsely pilose, sparsely covered with recurved prickles 1-4 mm long with elongate bases.  Leaves pinnately compound, leaflets 7 or sometimes only 5 in upper leaves, broadly lanceolate, 1.5-8 cm long, (0.6-) 1-3 cm wide, the terminal one slightly larger, sparsely pilose to glabrate and also sometimes glandular-dotted, margins doubly serrate, petiolules 0.1-0.3 cm long, rachis, petiolules, and petioles pilose, rachis and petioles also usually covered with small recurved prickles, stipules filiform, 0.6-0.8 cm long.  Flowers solitary or sometimes 2-3, terminal or axillary; sepals lanceolate, 8-15 mm long, both surfaces finely tomentose, apex long-attenuate; petals white, obovate, 10-20 mm long.  Fruit red at maturity, subglobose, 2-3.5 cm long, easily deciduous from the receptacle"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1110).

Habitat/ecology:  "Although roseleaf raspberry invades forest understories in some habitats, it is moderately shade intolerant, requiring partial sun to flower and fruit; it does best in full sun. Preferred habitats include natural and artificial openings in primary and secondary forest, such as tree-fall gaps, landslides, abandoned fields, neglected pastures, and roadsides. Roseleaf raspberry has a high moisture requirement, which usually means more than 1800 mm of mean annual precipitation and no severe annual droughts. The species usually grows at moderate to high elevations.  A variety of well drained to poorly-drained soils are colonized"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Invades understory of moist forests. Grows to 2,200 m elevation in Tahiti (Meyer, 2000; p. 93). In Hawai‘i, "a common weed in disturbed mesic to wet forest, 60-1,730 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1110). "A nuisance in pastures and natural areas, where it displaces desirable plants and interferes with passage and use of the land"  (Motooka et al., 2003).  In New Caledonia, "cultivé à Koé en 1883; maintenant très commun près des pistes forestières sur schistes" (MacKee, 1994; p. 122).

Propagation:  Fruits spread by birds and rodents. "Stems root (layer) whenever they come in contact with the soil, which helps it fill in newly colonized habitat"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Native range:  Asia, Australia.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hiva Oa Island introduced
invasive
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hiva Oa Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 41051)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosifolius
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Hiva Oa Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39604)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosifolius
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Moorea Island introduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 228)
Voucher cited: Florence 2213
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Moorea Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J. Florence 2213 (PAP), J. Florence 7819 (PAP)
Naturalisée, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Moorea Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 493058)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosaefolius Sm.
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Moorea Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 544427)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosaefolius Sm.
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Raiatea (Havai) Island introduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 228)
Voucher cited: Fosberg & Sachet 63144
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Raiatea (Havai) Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3504 (PAP), J. Florence 8862 (PAP)
Naturalisée, Menace pour la biodiversité
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Taha‘a Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 129)
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island introduced
invasive
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 93)
Wet habitats 50-2200 m.
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island introduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 228)
Vouchers cited: Forence 2535, BRY 25767, BRY 26004
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 2535 (PAP)
Naturalisée. Menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 554455)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosaefolius Sm.
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands
Rapa Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 6243 (PAP)
Naturalisée, Menace pour la biodiversité.
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Hawai‘i (Big) Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1110)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Kaua‘i Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1110)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Lāna‘i Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1110)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Maui Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1110)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Moloka‘i Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1110)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
O‘ahu Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1110)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Islands introduced
invasive
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100)
"Forestry trails, gaps"
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Islands introduced
invasive
Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382)
Très commune près des pistes forestières sur schistes.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Islands native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) (p. 96)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
cultivated
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 122)
Vouchers cited: Sarasin 230 (Z), Däniker 657 (Z), Buchholz 1307, MacDaniels 2122, MacKee 3692, MacKee 31113
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 173152)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosifolius Sm.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 581995)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosifolius Sm.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1983) (voucher ID: PTBG 28441)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosifolius
Papua New Guinea
Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago   Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 202)
Lacking in the lowlands; always at a height of 300 m or more.
Papua New Guinea
Bougainville Islands
Bougainville Island   Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 55)
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)
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands native
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 230)
In thickets and forests at low and medium altitudes, ascending in some regions to 1,900 m.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) (p. 96)
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands native
Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 106)
Vanuatu
New Hebrides Islands
Êfaté (Efete) Island   Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1971) (voucher ID: BISH 406080)
Taxon name on voucher: Rubus rosifolius Sm.
Vanuatu
New Hebrides Islands
Vanuatu (Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) (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)
Australia (continental) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) native
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
"Mixed forests, grassy slopes, roadsides, landslides. Low to medium elevations".
China
China
Hong Kong native
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 128)
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia (Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country 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
La Réunion (France)
La Réunion Island
La Réunion Island introduced
invasive
MacDonald, I. A. W./Thebaud, C./Strahm, W. A./Strasberg, D. (1991) (pp. 51-61)
La Réunion (France)
La Réunion Island
La Réunion Island introduced
invasive
Lavergne, Christophe (2006)
"Naturalisé/±envahissant"
La Réunion (France)
La Réunion Island
La Réunion Island introduced
invasive
Baret, Stephane/Rouget, Mathieu/Richardson, David M./Lavergne, Christophe/Egoh, Benis/Dupont, Joel/Strasberg, Dominique (2006) (p. 758)
Mauritius
Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)
Mauritius Island native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)
Envahissant principalement dans les milieux perturbés.
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands
Seychelles Islands introduced
Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  Very invasive in French Polynesia (Meyer, 2000; p. 93).

Control: 

Physical: Isolated plants may be grubbed out, but any remaining roots will sprout.

Chemical:  "Sensitive to triclopyr ester in water and very sensitive to triclopyr ester in a crop oil carrier, each applied by the drizzle method at 1 lb/acre.  HAVO staff reported control with foliar application of either glyphosate at 1% product or triclopyr ester at 1% product in water (Chris Zimmer, HAVO)"  (Motooka et al., 2003).


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

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This page was created on 1 JAN 1999 and was last updated on 11 FEB 2010.