Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Senna sophera
(L.) Roxb., Fabaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Cassia sophera L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: amot tumagá karabao, amot-tumaga

Chinese: huai ye jue ming

Samoan: la‘au tinei lafa, lau matui

Tongan: lau matui, matui

Ulithian: haeleng

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrubs, 1-2 (-3) m tall, glabrous. Leaves 7-18 (-21) cm; petiole 3-5 cm, with a subulate or narrow clavate gland 5-10 mm above petiole joint; petiolules ca. 2 mm; leaflets 4-10 pairs, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.7-4.2 x 0.7-2 cm, base rounded, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Corymbs axillary, few flowered; peduncles 1-2 cm; bracts ovate, ca. 5 mm; pedicels 1-1.5 cm. Sepals ovate-orbicular, ca. 5 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 6 or 7 fertile, 2 longer; anthers opening by apical pores; staminodes 3 or 4, ca. 2 mm. Ovary finely pubescent. Legume straight, 5-10 x 0.5-1 cm, flattened and slightly thick at first, subcylindric, ± swollen when ripe. Seeds 30-40, ovoid, compressed"  (Flora of China online).

"Erect herb 0.5-2 m high, soon becoming woody, only weakly malodorous... The larger leaves are 7-18 cm long, usually with 6-8 pairs of leaflets, the largest (distal) blades lanceolate or ovate-acuminate and up to 7 x 2 cm. The 4-10-flowered racemes have flowers with petals like those of Senna occidentalis but slightly smaller. The pods are erect or stiffly ascending, cylindric or linear-ellipsoid, and usually 6-9.5 x 0.7-1 cm" (Smith, 1985; p. 113).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "presumably indigenous and occurring near sea level, although weedy in aspect, apparently rare" (Smith, 1985; p. 113). "Uncommon in waste places in Tonga, not collected in Samoa since 1920" (Whistler, 1988; p. 27). In Tonga, "occasional as a plantation and waste-area weed" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 136). In New Caledonia, "largement répandu surtout près du littoral" (MacKee, 1994; p. 74).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Pantropical, but perhaps originally paleotropical (Smith, 1985; p. 113). An aboriginal introduction to Polynesia (Whistler, 1988; p. 27).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
American Samoa
Tutuila Islands
Tutuila Island   Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 91)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Aguijan (Agiguan, Aguihan) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Alamagan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Alamagan Island introduced
invasive
Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26)
Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1933 (US), Fosberg 31716 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Anatahan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Anatahan Island introduced
invasive
Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26)
Voucher cited: Falanruw 1675 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Rota Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Tinian Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands
Tinian Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1946) (voucher ID: PTBG 22655)
Taxon name on voucher: Senna sophora
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Saipan
Saipan Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Federated States of Micronesia
Yap Islands
Fais Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
May be a missidentification (Fosberg & Evans, 1969; p. 7).
Federated States of Micronesia
Yap Islands
Ulithi Atoll introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Federated States of Micronesia
Yap Islands
Yap (Waqab) Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Viti Levu Island probably native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 113)
Probably indigenous per Smith. Voucher cited: Horne 1029
Guam
Guam Island
Guam Island introduced
invasive
Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 311)
Voucher cited: Stone 4868 (GUAM)
Guam
Guam Island
Guam Island introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands introduced
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
New Caledonia
Récifs D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux Reefs)
Île Surprise introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Voucher cited: Boulet in MacKee 31450
New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)
Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands) introduced
invasive
Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)
Île Lifou introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Voucher cited: Schmid 1282 (NOU)
New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)
Île Maré introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Voucher cited: Däniker 2003 (Z)
New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)
Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll) introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Voucher cited: Sarasin 861 (Z)
New Caledonia
Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)
Île Walpole introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Voucher cited: Cherrier in MacKee 44035
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Vouchers cited: Vieillard 393, MacGillivray 19, Däniker 1626 (Z)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île des Pins (Isle of Pines) introduced
invasive
Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île des Pins (Isle of Pines) introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74)
Voucher cited: Pancher 814
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Philippines
Philippine Islands
Philippine Islands introduced
invasive
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 264)
An occasional weed in the settled areas at low and mediuim altitudes.
Samoa
Western Samoa Islands
Western Samoa Islands probably native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 113)
Samoa
Western Samoa Islands
Western Samoa Islands   Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 27)
Probably indigenous per Smith.
Tonga
Tonga Islands
Tonga Islands probably native
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 113)
Probably indigenous per Smith.
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
‘Eua Island   Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 32)
Voucher cited: Soakai 370
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
‘Eua Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 136)
Voucher cited: Yuncker 15620
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
Tongatapu Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 136)
Cited: Forster, Home.
Tonga
Vava‘u Group
Tafahi Island   Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 136)
Voucher cited: Hülimann 576
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands
Wallis and Futuna Islands   Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 27)
Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia (Kingdom of) uncertain if native
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Panama (Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Panama (Republic of) uncertain if native
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) introduced
invasive
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
"Mountain slopes, roadsides. Central and southern China".
China
China
Hong Kong native
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 136)
As Cassia sophera L.
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia (Republic of) introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Indonesia
Indonesia
West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya) introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Japan
Japan
Japan introduced
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
Japan
Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country of) introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico (United Mexican States) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico (United Mexican States) uncertain if native
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand (country) introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
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)
Colombia uncertain if native
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand (Kingdom of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand (Kingdom of) uncertain if native
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) uncertain if native
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Comoros
Comoro Islands
Comoro Islands introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
La Réunion (France)
La Réunion Island
La Réunion Island introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives
Maldive Islands
Maldive Islands introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Maldives
Maldive Islands
Malè Atoll   Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 20)
Mauritius
Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)
Mauritius Island introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands
Seychelles Islands introduced
ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands
Seychelles Islands introduced
Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Senna sophera, please let us know.


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

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This page was created on 19 AUG 2002 and was last updated on 13 DEC 2010.