Toona ciliata M.Roem., Meliaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 12 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Cedrela australis F. v. Muell.; Cedrela toona Roxb. ex Rottl. & Willd.; Toona australis (F. v. Muell.) Harms

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: hong chun

English: Australian red cedar, Indian mahogany, Suren mahogany, red cedar, toon

Samoan: tuna

Tongan: sita kula

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Fast-growing trees to ca. 20-30 m tall.  Leaves usually 3-6 dm long, leaflets 10-14 (-18), narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 4.5-16 cm long, glabrous or at least sparsely pubescent, apex acute to caudate, base inequilateral.  Calyx lobes ca. 1 mm long; petals white, ca. 5-6 mm long, margins ciliate; nectary disk pubescent; staminal filaments ca. 2 mm long, staminodes absent; ovary and style glabrous.  Capsules reddish brown, with some lighter spots, ellipsoid, 2-2.8 cm long.  Seeds brown, thin, dry, the embryo portion ca. 1-2 mm long with 2 wings, the longer one ca. 5-15 mm long, the other ca. half as long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 920, 1885).

Habitat/ecology:  "Forests and forest gaps, riparian habitats.  A fast growing, light-demanding, early successional pioneer tree that spreads rapidly in disturbed forests and cleared areas.  The tree is shade intolerant and becomes persistent once established.  Little is know on the ecology of this tree as an invasive species"  (Weber, 2003; p. 434).

In Hawai‘i, "extensively planted, primarily in forestry areas, and now at least sparingly naturalized in mesic to wet, disturbed habitats, 25-610 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 920).

Propagation:  Wind-dispersed seed.

Native range:  India, southeastern Asia, and Queensland and New South Wales, Australia; cultivated elsewhere as a fast-growing timber tree (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 920).

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	Mangaia Island	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 89)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 112)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) var. australis (F.J. Mueller) A.C. de Candolle Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) var. australis (F.J. Mueller) A.C. de Candolle. Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11174 (PAP) "Planté rarement, tend à se naturaliser".
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 40)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 920, 1885)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 920, 1885)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 920, 1885)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 920, 1885)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 27) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer & Perlman H110620 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 920, 1885)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 101)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 47)
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	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced	Pallawatta, Nirmalie/Reaser, Jamie K./Gutierrez, Alixis T./eds. (2003) (p. 81)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 357) In primary forests at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 11)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 115)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 64)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 57)

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	native	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 920)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 920)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom 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
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Weber, Ewald (2003) (p. 434)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
South Africa South Africa	South Africa (Republic of)	introduced	Henderson, Lesley (1995)

Comments:  Often introduced as a forestry tree. Should be closely monitored for naturalization.

Control: 

Physical:  Hand pull or dig out seedlings and young plants.

Chemical:  Cut larger trees and treat the stumps with herbicide (Weber, 2003; p. 434).