Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems

PIER plant species present on Palmyra Atoll 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 Palmyra Atoll. 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?
Casuarina equisetifolia   (Casuarinaceae) Casuarina litorea L. ex Fosberg & Sachet tree No
Cenchrus echinatus   (Poaceae)   grass No
Chloris barbata   (Poaceae) Chloris inflata Link; Chloris paraguayensis Steud. grass No
Conyza bonariensis   (Asteraceae) Erigeron bonariensis L.; Erigeron crispus Pourr. herb No
Crotalaria incana   (Fabaceae)   shrub 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
Cyperus rotundus   (Cyperaceae) Chlorocyperus rotundus (L.) Palla; Cyperus tetrastachyos Desf. sedge No
Eleusine indica   (Poaceae) Cynosurus indicus L.; Eleusine japonica Steud. grass No
Emilia sonchifolia   (Asteraceae) Emilia javanica (Burm. f.) C. B. Rob. herb No
Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum'   (Araceae)   vine No
Eragrostis scabriflora   (Poaceae)   grass No
Erechtites hieraciifolius   (Asteraceae) Senecio hieraciifolius L. herb No
Euphorbia cyathophora   (Euphorbiaceae) Poinsettia cyathophora (Murray) Klotzsch & Garcke herb No
Euphorbia hirta   (Euphorbiaceae) Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp.; Euphorbia pilulifera L. herb No
Euphorbia hypericifolia   (Euphorbiaceae) Chamaesyce glomerifera Millsp.; Chamaesyce hypericifolia (L.) Millsp.; Euphorbia glomifera Millsp. herb No
Ipomoea violacea   (Convolvulaceae) Convolvulus tuba Schlechtend.; Ipomoea macrantha Roem. & Schult.; Ipomoea tuba (Schlechtend.) G. Don vine No
Kyllinga brevifolia   (Cyperaceae) Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Endl. ex Hassk. sedge No
Leucaena leucocephala   (Fabaceae) Acacia glauca Willd.; Leucaena glauca auct.; Mimosa leucocephala Lam. tree No
Ludwigia octovalvis   (Onagraceae) Jussiaea erecta sensu various authors; Jussiaea suffruticosa L. herb No
Paspalum fimbriatum   (Poaceae)   grass No
Paspalum scrobiculatum   (Poaceae) Paspalum cartilagineum Presl.; Paspalum orbiculare G. Forst. grass No
Paspalum setaceum   (Poaceae)   grass No
Phyllanthus amarus   (Phyllanthaceae) Phyllanthus niruri sensu various Pacific botanists herb No
Pilea microphylla   (Urticaceae)   herb No
Pluchea carolinensis   (Asteraceae) Conyza carolinensis Jacq.; Pluchea symphytifolia auct. shrub No
Pluchea indica   (Asteraceae)   shrub No
Portulaca oleracea   (Portulacaceae)   herb No
Pseuderanthemum carruthersii   (Acanthaceae) Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum (W. Bull) Radlk.; Pseuderanthemum reticulatum Radlk. shrub No
Pteris vittata   (Pteridaceae)   fern No
Ruellia blechum   (Acanthaceae) Barleria pyramidata Lam.; Blechum brownei Juss.; Blechum pyramidatum (Lam.) Urb.; Ruellia blechum f. puberulum herb No
Schefflera actinophylla   (Araliaceae) Brassaia actinophylla Endlicher tree No
Spermacoce remota   (Rubiaceae) Borreria laevis sensu various authors; Spermacoce assurgens Ruiz & Pav. herb No
Sporobolus indicus   (Poaceae) Agrostis indica L.; Axonopus poiretii Roem. & Schult.; Sporobolus fertilis (Steud.) Clayton; Sporobolus indicus var. major; Sporobolus poiretii (Roem. & Schult.) Hitchc. grass No
Stachytarpheta cayennensis   (Verbenaceae) Stachytarpheta dichotoma (Ruiz & Pav.) Vahl.; Stachytarpheta urticaefolia (Salisb.) Sims; Stachytarpheta urticifolia (Salisb.) Sims herb No
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis   (Verbenaceae)   herb No
Synedrella nodiflora   (Asteraceae)   herb 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.