This table lists invasive and potentially invasive plant species profiled by the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER) that occur on Moala Island. It includes those of environmental concern (including those that are probably of threat only to islands with high elevations) as well as agricultural and ruderal weeds. Each species is linked by its scientific name to an individual write-up containing relevant information.
The information in this table is based on the supporting data and may not represent the current situation. Note also there may be discrepancies among data presented at geographic resolutions (e.g., island vs. island group vs. country-territory-state levels), depending upon the reliability of the data at each level.
Species are listed in alphabetic order. You can browse this list or use the "find" function on your web browser to search by scientific name.
Can't find it here? Check the list of synonyms for other names (the more common synonyms are included below) or search other lists and databases available on the Internet.
Stumped by botanical terms? Here are links to a brief glossary and a search engine for botanical terms.
Scientific name (+Family) | Often-used other Latin names | Habit |
Primarily a threat
at high elevations? |
Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) | herb | No | |
Ageratum conyzoides (Asteraceae) | herb | No | |
Amaranthus viridis (Amaranthaceae) | Amaranthus gracilis Desf., nom. nud. | herb | No |
Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) | herb | No | |
Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) | Casuarina litorea L. ex Fosberg & Sachet | tree | No |
Centella asiatica (Apiaceae) | Hydrocotyle asiatica L.; Hydrocotyle erecta L. f. | herb | No |
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Poaceae) | Andropogon acicularis Retz. ex Roem. & Schult.; Andropogon aciculatus Retz.; Rhaphis acicularis (Retz. ex Roem. & Schult.) Desv.; Rhaphis aciculata (Retz.) Honda | grass | No |
Coix lacryma-jobi (Poaceae) | grass | No | |
Cyathula prostrata (Amaranthaceae) | Achyranthes prostrata L.; Desmochaeta prostrata (L.) DC.; Pupalia prostrata (L.) Mart. | herb | No |
Cymbopogon refractus (Poaceae) | Andropogon refractus R. Br. | grass | No |
Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum (Poaceae) | Panicum oxyphyllum Hochst. ex Steud. | grass | No |
Digitaria fuscescens (Poaceae) | Paspalum fuscescens J. Presl | grass | No |
Echinochloa colona (Poaceae) | Panicum colonum L. | grass | No |
Fleurya interrupta (Urticaceae) | Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew; Urtica interrupta L. | herb | No |
Imperata conferta (Poaceae) | Imperata exaltata auct.; Saccharum confertum J. Presl | grass | No |
Mirabilis jalapa (Nyctaginaceae) | herb | No | |
Oplismenus compositus (Poaceae) | Panicum compositum L. | grass | No |
Oplismenus hirtellus (Poaceae) | Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius (Lam.) Mez ex Ekman; Oplismenus setarius (Lam.) Roem. & Schult. | grass | No |
Paspalum conjugatum (Poaceae) | grass | No | |
Phyllanthus debilis (Phyllanthaceae) | herb | No | |
Rubus moluccanus (Rosaceae) | shrub | No | |
Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae) | Sida microphylla Cav. | shrub | No |
Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) | Hibiscus populneoides Roxb.; Hibiscus populneus L.; Thespesia macrophylla Blume; Thespesia populneoides (Roxb.) Kostel. | shrub/tree | No |
Trema orientalis (Cannabaceae) | Trema cannabina Lour.; Trema cannabinum Lour.; Trema orientale (L.) Blume; Trema tomentosum (Roxb.) H. Hara | tree | No |
Urena lobata (Malvaceae) | Urena sinuata L. | shrub | No |