Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems

PIER plant species present on Aukena Island listed by scientific name

A product of the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)

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This table lists invasive and potentially invasive plant species profiled by the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER) that occur on Aukena 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
Aleurites moluccana   (Euphorbiaceae) Aleurites remyi Sherff; Aleurites trilobus J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.; Jatropha moluccana L. tree No
Bidens pilosa   (Asteraceae)   herb No
Canna indica   (Cannaceae) Canna cinea Mill.; Canna edulis Ker Gawl.; Canna limbata Roscoe; Canna lutea Mill. herb No
Casuarina equisetifolia   (Casuarinaceae) Casuarina litorea L. ex Fosberg & Sachet tree No
Catharanthus roseus   (Apocynaceae) Lochnera rosea (L.) Reichb. ex Steud.; Vinca rosea L. herb No
Cenchrus echinatus   (Poaceae)   grass 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
Citrus aurantium   (Rutaceae) Citrus bigarradia Loisel.; Citrus vulgaris Risso tree No
Coffea arabica   (Rubiaceae)   tree No
Colocasia esculenta   (Araceae) Arum esculentum L.; Caladium esculentum (L.) Vent.; Colocasia antiquorum Schott herb No
Cyanthillium cinereum   (Asteraceae) Blumea chinensis (L.) DC.; Conyza chinensis L.; Conyza cinerea L.; Senecioides cinerea (L.) Kuntze ex Britt. & Wilson; Serratula cinerea (L.) Roxb.; Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.; Vernonia cinerea var. parviflora (Reinw.) DC. herb No
Cynodon dactylon   (Poaceae)   grass No
Digitaria ciliaris   (Poaceae) Digitaria adscendens (Kunth) Henrard grass No
Echinochloa colona   (Poaceae) Panicum colonum L. grass No
Eleusine indica   (Poaceae) Cynosurus indicus L.; Eleusine japonica Steud. grass No
Emilia sonchifolia   (Asteraceae) Emilia javanica (Burm. f.) C. B. Rob. herb No
Eragrostis amabilis   (Poaceae) Eragrostis plumosa (Retz.) Link; Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.; Poa tenella L. grass No
Euphorbia hirta   (Euphorbiaceae) Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp.; Euphorbia pilulifera L. herb No
Euphorbia prostrata   (Euphorbiaceae) Chamaesyce prostrata (Aiton) Small herb No
Ipomoea batatas   (Convolvulaceae) Convolvulus batatas L. vine No
Macroptilium lathyroides   (Fabaceae) Phaseolus lathyroides L. herb No
Malvastrum coromandelianum   (Malvaceae) Malva coromandeliana L.; Malvastrum tricuspidatum A. Gray herb No
Mangifera indica   (Anacardiaceae)   tree No
Melia azedarach   (Meliaceae) Melia candollei A. Juss.; Melia floribunda Carrière; Melia toosendan Siebold & Zucc. tree No
Nicotiana tabacum   (Solanaceae)   herb No
Oplismenus compositus   (Poaceae) Panicum compositum L. grass No
Paspalum scrobiculatum   (Poaceae) Paspalum cartilagineum Presl.; Paspalum orbiculare G. Forst. grass No
Paspalum vaginatum   (Poaceae) Palspalum distichum sensu auct. non L. grass No
Persea americana   (Lauraceae)   tree No
Phyllanthus amarus   (Phyllanthaceae) Phyllanthus niruri sensu various Pacific botanists herb No
Psidium guajava   (Myrtaceae)   tree No
Rhynchosia minima   (Fabaceae)   herb No
Salvia coccinea   (Lamiaceae)   herb No
Sida rhombifolia   (Malvaceae) Sida microphylla Cav. shrub No
Solanum americanum   (Solanaceae) Solanum nigrum var. americanum (Mill.) O.E. Schulz herb No
Solanum lycopersicum   (Solanaceae) Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.; Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karst. herb No
Solanum nigrum   (Solanaceae)   herb No
Synedrella nodiflora   (Asteraceae)   herb No
Triumfetta rhomboidea   (Malvaceae) Triamfetta bartramia L. shrub No
Verbena litoralis   (Verbenaceae)   herb No
Waltheria indica   (Malvaceae) Waltheria americana L. shrub No

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

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This page was last regenerated on 26FEB2019.