Scientific Name

Common Names

Family

Habit

Achyranthes aspera

English: chaff-flower, devil's horsewhip; prickly chaff-flower; Other: piripiri (Cook Islands); kōpū varu (Cook Islands (‘Atiu, Ma‘uke)); tumu ‘enua (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); sono ivi (Fiji); aerofai (French Polynesia (Tahiti));chichitun, lasogado, lasocata (Guam-Chamorro); talamoa fisi (Niue); louch beluu, louch el beluu (Palau); lautafifi (Samoa); tamatama (Samoa, Tonga)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Ageratum conyzoides

English: billygoat-weed, chick week, goatweed, whiteweed; French: azier françois, baume, bouton; Spanish: chuva; Other: botebotekoro, mata mothemothe, mbotembotekoro, sogovanua, songovanua (Fiji); mumutung (Guam-Chamorro), maire vaihi (French Polynesia); maile hohono, maile honohono, maile kula (Hawai‘i); sekose sea (Niue); ngmak (Palau); a‘amia, tae‘oti (Samoa); te‘ehosi (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

English: joyweed, sessile joyweed; Other: mata kura (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); geluti (Fiji); okula beluulechad (Palau); fisi‘i‘anoa (Tonga)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Alysicarpus vaginalis

English: alyce-clover, buffalo-clover, one-leaf-clover; French: alysicarpus; Spanish: maní cimarrón

Fabaceae

herb

Annona muricata

English: soursop, prickly custard apple; French: corossolier, cacheimantier épineux, cachiman épineux, corossol épineux; Other: syasyap (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); kātara‘apa (Cook Islands); kātara‘apa papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); naponapo taratara (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); saasaf, sasaf (Chuuk); tapotapo papaa (French Polynesia); laguana, laguaná, laguanaha, laguanaba, labuanaha (Guam); sosap (Kosrae); jojaab (Marshall Islands); talapo fotofoto (Niue); sausab (Palau); sei, sae, truka shai (Pohnpei); sasalapa (Samoa); ‘apele ‘initia (Tonga); sausau (Yap)

Annonaceae

tree

Asclepias curassavica

English: bastard ipecac, blood flower, bloodflower milkweed, butterfly weed, false ipecac, milkweed; French: herbe a gendarme, ipéca sauvage; Spanish: algodoncillo, corcalito, flor de sangre, yuquillo; Other: tirika, tiare moko (Cook Islands); false ipiciachuana, wathiwathi, vu ni lolia, madhar (Fiji); asuncion (Guam-Chamorro); laulele, lauhele, nu‘umela, pua ‘anuhe (Hawai‘i); pepetoa, vaomumu, vao fualele (Samoa); lou pepe, tu‘ulapepe (Tonga)

Asclepiadaceae

herb

Axonopus compressus

English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji)

Poaceae

grass

Bacopa procumbens

Scrophulariaceae

herb

Bidens pilosa

English: beggar’s tick, Spanish needle, cobbler's pegs; French: piquants noirs, bident hérissé, herbe d'aiguille, herbe villebague (Mauritius); Other: piripiri kerekere (Cook Islands); piripiri (Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti)); nīroa (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); kamika tuarongo (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); tae puaka (Futuna); batimadramadra, mbatimandramandra, mbatikalawau, matakaro, matua kamate (Fiji); ki, ki nehe, ki pipili, nehe (Hawai'i); kofe tonga, kofetoga (Niue); fisi'uli (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

Blechum pyramidata

English: green shrimp plant, blackweed (Samoa), Browne’s blechum; Other: ererion , fetinin namocels (Chuuk); yetbas babney (CNMI—Alamagan); lasaga, yetbas babui (CNMI—Saipan); ligakoka (Faraulap); yerbas babui (Guam);, aurowra (Nomwin); vao uli (Samoa); atait (Satawal); gacel, malai, melai (Yap)

Acanthaceae

herb

Caladium bicolor

English: caladium, elephant's-ear, fancy-leaf caladium, heart-of-Jesus; Other: corazon de Santa Maria (Guam-Chamorro); kalo-kalakoa (Hawai'i)

Araceae

herb

Cananga odorata

English: perfume tree; French: canang odorant; Other: moso‘oi (American Samoa and Samoa); pwanang, pwuur, pwalang (Chuuk); ylang-ylang, lengileng; (CNMI); moto‘oi, mata‘oi, mato‘oi (Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti); makasoi, makosoi, makusui, mokohoi, mokosoi (Fiji); moto‘i (French Polynesia); ilang-ilang, alang-ilang (Guam, CNMI, Philippines); lanalana (Hawai‘i); ilanlang, ilahnglahng (Kosrae); ilanilan, ilañlañ (Marshall Islands); motoi (Niue); chiráng, irang (Palau); pur-n-wai, pwurenwai, sair-n-wai, seirin wai, seir en wai (Pohnpei); mohoki, mohokoi (Tonga)

Annonaceae

tree

English: Cape periwinkle, Madagascar periwinkle, old-maid, rose periwinkle, rosy periwinkle; French: pervenche de Madagascar; Spanish: chatas, chula, pervinca de Madagascar; Other: tiare tāpau (Cook Islands), tiare mākaru (Cook Islands (Mangaia, Oneroa Village)); tiare mākurūta (Cook Islands (Ngaputou)); tiare kimo (Cook Islands (eastern Rarotonga)); tiare akiaki (northern Cook Islands); taramea, tiara taramea (Cook Islands (Aitutaki?)); kātini (Cook Islands (Mangaia, Tamarua Villiage)); kihapai (Hawai‘i))

Apocynaceae

herb

Celosia argentea

English: cockscomb; repe moa (French Polynesia); esechilamalk (Palau)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Centella asiatica

English: Asiatic pennywort, Indian pennywort, marsh pennywort, pennyweed, sheep-rot, thankuni; French: écuelle d'eau, fausse violette; Spanish: hierba de clavo, sombrerito; Other: kapukapu (Cook Islands); totondro, totono, tatandra (Fiji); pohe kula (Hawai‘i); tonu (Niue); tono (Niue, Tonga); elisichur, elsichur (Palau); togo (Samoa)

Apiaceae

herb

English: asthma plant, garden spurge, pill-bearing spurge, hairy spurge, sneeze weed (Solomon Islands); French: herbe a dysenterie, herbe a verrues; Other: totototo titā (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); ndeniose, ndeniosi, samunggawe, ovuka, ovoku (Fiji); eaea, raau topau (French Polynesia); golondrina (Guam-Chamorro); koko kahiki (Hawai‘i); toto tane (Niue); udall (Palau); la‘au fai moti (Samoa); sakisi (Tonga)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

English: beach spurge, graceful spurge; Other: ufi tamaiti? (Samoa)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

English: creeping splurge, prostrate spurge, red caustic creeper; Other: bodulagas-chaca (Chamorro-Guam); te tarai (Kiribati); toto fifine, toto fefine? (Niue); laulili'i (Samoa); papati (French Polynesia (Society Islands))

Euphorbiaceae

herb

English: red caustic creeper, thyme-leafed spurge

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Coix lacryma-jobi

English: adlay, adlay millet, Job's-tears; French: larmes de Job; Spanish: lágrimas de Job, lágrimas de San Pedro; Other: poepoe (Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti)), sila (Fiji); pū‘ohe‘ohe, kūkaekōlea, ‘ohe‘ohe, pūpū kōlea (Hawai‘i); tangatanga (Niue); demairuuch, tauiir (Palau); sanasana, sagasaga (Samoa); hana (Tonga)

Poaceae

grass

Crotalaria pallida

English: salts rattlebox, smooth crotalaria, smooth rattlebox, smooth rattlepod, streaked rattlepod, striped crotalaria; French: crotalaire mucronée; Other: maniva (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); nggiringgiri, kaumothe, toela, pini (Fiji); pikakani, kolomona (Hawai‘i); pine kotalelia (Niue); pi'isi (Tonga)

Fabaceae

shrub

English: devil-bean, wedge-leaf crotalaria, wedge-leaf rattlepod; Spanish: cascabel fétido; Other: piini? (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

English: rattlebox, showy crotalaria, showy rattlebox, showy rattlepod; French: crotalaire remarquable; Other: kolomona (Hawai‘i); ha'apai (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

English: flat sedge; Other: pakopako (Tonga)

Cyperaceae

sedge

English: long-headed sedge; Other: mue mue, mou upo tutu (French Polynesia)

Cyperaceae

sedge

English: dirty-Dora, one-arm sedge, rice sedge, small-flower umbrella-plant, variable flat sedge

Cyperaceae

sedge

Cyperus haspan

Cyperaceae

sedge

Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum

English: long-leaf cyrtococcum grass; Other: thovatu, osalasala (Fiji)

Poaceae

grass

Cyrtococcum patens

Poaceae

grass

Dactyloctenium aegyptium

English: beach wiregrass, button grass, coast button grass, comb fringe grass, crowfoot grass, duck grass, finger comb grass

Poaceae

grass

Delonix regia

English:  flame tree, flamboyant, poinciana; French:  pacayer; Spanish:  flamboyan; Other: pātai (Cook Islands (Rarotonga, Mangaia, Aitutaki, Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga)); raākau taāmarumaru, taāmarumaru, (Cook Islands (Atiu)); pukakai (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); puū piī (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); marumaru (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)); fayarbaw, nfayarbaw (CNMI–Carolinian); sekoula (Fiji); pakai, puke (Tahiti, French Polynesia); arbol del fuego, atbot, atbot det fuegu, atbut (Guam and CNMI–Chamorro); ‘ohai ‘ula (Hawai‘i); te tua (Kiribati); pine (Niue); nangiosákura, nangiosikura, nangyo (Palau); pilampwoia weitahta (Pohnpei); tamaligi (Samoa); ‘ohai (Tonga); fua tausaga (Tuvalu); sakuranirow (Yap)

Fabaceae

tree

Other: okula beluu (Palau)

Fabaceae

herb

English: hetero, Spanish clover; Other: senivakathengu, wakutu (Fiji)

Fabaceae

herb

Desmodium incanum

English: kaimi clover, Spanish clover; Other: ngātoro (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); ka‘imi (Hawai‘i)

Fabaceae

shrub

English: creeping tick trefoil, three-flower beggarweed, tropical trefoil; Spanish: hierba cuartillo; Other: olmud (Palau); konikoni, vakathengu (Fiji); kihikihi (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

English: silverleaf desmodium, Spanish clover, Spanish tick-clover; Spanish: desmodio plateado, pega pega

Fabaceae

herb

Digitaria fuscescens

English Y grass; Other: creeping kūkaepua‘a (Hawai‘i)

Poaceae

grass

Dioscorea bulbifera

English: aerial yam, air-potato, bitter yam, cheeky yam, potato yam; French: igname bulbifère, pousse en l'air; Spanish: ñame de gunda, papa voladora; Other: kaile, kaile ndranu, kaile nganga, kaile manu, sarau (Fiji); magnaheugo (Chamorro-Guam); hoi (Hawai‘i, Niue, Tonga); pi‘oi (Hawai‘i (Kaua‘i)), belloi (Palau); soi (Samoa, Wallis and Futuna); kwai kwasi (Solomon Islands)

Dioscoreaceae

vine

Duranta erecta

English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other: ‘olive (Tonga)

Verbenaceae

shrub

English: awnless barnyard grass (Australia), corn panic grass, Deccan grass, jungle ricegrass, jungle rice, millet-rice, pigeon millet (Samoa), shama millet; French: blé du Dekkan; Spanish: pasto del arroz; Other: chaguan-agaga (Chamorro – Guam); uaum (Palau); sefa (Samoa); muhuku'apopoa, matala'ulie (Tonga); riz de jungle (Vanuatu)

Poaceae

grass

English: eclipta, false daisy, swamp daisy, white eclipta; French: éclipte blanche; Spanish: hierba de tajo, yerba de tajo; Other: miri mapua (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); tamudu, tamudi, tamandu, tumandu, tumundi, tholulu, colulu (Fiji); deberebelela tengadidik (Palau)

Asteraceae

herb

Elaeis guineensis

English: African oil palm; French: palmier à huile d'Afrique; Other: nū tāmara (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); apwiraiasi (Pohnpei)

Arecaceae

tree

Eleocharis dulcis

English: Chinese water-chestnut, ground-chestnut, waternut; French: châtaigne d'eau; Spanish: cabezas de negrito, nuez china; Other: kuta, sasa, taria (Fiji); uchaga-lane (Guam-Chamorro); kerdikes (Palau); utu utu (Samoa); ngwaro (Solomon Islands)

Cyperaceae

sedge

Emilia sonchifolia

English: Cupid's shaving-brush, emilia, Flora's paint brush, purple sow thistle, sow thistle; French: émilie; Other: pupu lele (Niue); pualele (Niue, Samoa); fua lele, fua lele lili‘i (Samoa); longlongo‘uha (Tonga))

Asteraceae

herb

Eragrostis amabilis

English: Bug's egg grass, Japanese love grass, love grass (Fiji, Guam), female grass (Kiribati); Other: te uteute naine (Kiribati), ouemoket (Palau)

Poaceae

grass

Eragrostis pilosa

English: hairy love grass, Indian love grass, soft lovegrass; French: pâturin poilu; Spanish: barba de indio

Poaceae

grass

Eriochloa procera

Poaceae

grass

Euphorbia cyathophora

English: dwarf poinsettia, fire-on-the-mountain, Mexican fire plant, painted spurge, wild poinsettia; Other: te kabekan (Kiribati); deriba (Nauru)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Eustachys petraea

Poaceae

grass

Other: salato, salato ni koro, salato vutivali (Fiji); hongohongo (Niue, Tonga); ongo ongo (Niue, Samoa); ogoogo (Samoa); akoako fuluma (Solomon Islands); nanggalat (Vanuatu); mangeo (Wallis and Futuna)

Urticaceae

herb

Fuirena umbellata

Other: desum ra mesei (Palau); yefen (Yap)

Cyperaceae

sedge

Gomphrena globosa

English: bachelor's-button, bozu, globe amaranth, pearly everlasting; French: amarantine; Spanish: amarantina, amor seco, eterna; Other: pōkai kura (Cook Islands); poe ura (French Polynesia); buton agaga (Guam-Chamorro); lehua mau loa, lehua, lehua pepa, leihua (Hawai‘i); malila (Niue, Samoa); botang (Palau)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Gossypium barbadense

English: cotton, sea island cotton; French: coton; Spanish: algodón; Other: vavaī (Cook Islands); vauvau, vauvau ni vavalangi (Fiji); algodon, atgodon (Guam-Chamorro); kī‘ailana, pulupulu, pulupulu haole, (Hawai‘i); vavae (Niue)

Malvaceae

shrub

Hippobroma longiflora

English: star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other: pua hōkū (Hawai‘i); udel ra badrei (Palau)

Campanulaceae

herb

Impatiens balsamina

English: impatiens, balsam, garden balsam, rose balsam, spotted snapweed, touch-me-not; French: balsamine des jardins, impatience; Other: kamantigi (Guam); hosengka (Palau); polosomo (Tonga)

Balsaminaceae

succulent

English: Aiea morning-glory, little bell; Other: fofgu-sabana (Guam-Chamorro); orech, torech (Palau)

Convolvulaceae

vine

English: batiki blue grass (Fiji), mbatiki blue grass (Fiji), mbalanga grass (Fiji)

Poaceae

grass

Other: ilemelakel (Palau)

Scrophulariaceae

herb

Other: moomai pere, haehaa, mataura (French Polynesia); ilemelakel (Palau)

Scrophulariaceae

herb

Other: nai quisa (Fiji), charguan asusuyan, titimo (Guam-Chamorro)

Onagraceae

herb

English: willow primrose, false primrose, yellow willow herb; French: faux primerose; Other: tiēmu (Cook Islands); pītōrea (Cook Islands (Ngaputoru and Mangaia), French Polynesia (leeward Society Islands); kāmole, alohalua, kāmole lau li‘i, kāmole lau nui (Hawai‘i); te mam (Kiribati); erur (Palau); laavai, mautofu vao, fua samasama (Samoa)

Onagraceae

herb

English: dishrag gourd, loofah, rag gourd, smooth loofah, sponge gourd, vegetable sponge; French: courge torchon, pétole; Spanish: estropajo, paste; Other: pō‘ue (Cook Islands); mafai (Tonga)

Cucurbitaceae

vine

Momordica charantia

English: balsam-apple, bitter-melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, squirting cucumber, cerasee, peria; French: momordique, margose (Réunion, Mauritius Islands), margose amère, momordique amère, concombre amer, concombre africain; Spanish: achoccha silvestre; Other: pōkutekute rengarenga (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); kerala (Fiji); almagosa, atmagosu (Guam); atmagoso (Guam, CNMI); markoso, markosong (Palau); meleni 'ae kuma, vaine 'initia (Tonga)

Cucurbitaceae

vine

Moringa oleifera

English: horseradish tree, drumstick tree, ben nut, morango; French: ben ailée, moringa ailée, pois quénique; Other: malungkai, marronggai, marungai, marunggai, malungay, katdes (Guam); sajina (Fiji); malungkai (Palau)

Moringaceae

tree

Oxalis barrelieri

Other: a'aa'a'ii, vine (Samoa)

Oxalidaceae

herb

Paspalum scrobiculatum

English: rice grass; creeping paspalum, ditch millet, Indian paspalum, kodo millet, water couch; Spanish: mijo koda; Other: māatāa (Cook Islands); co duru levu, tho nduru levu, tho ndina, tho ni ndina (Fiji); mau‘u laiki (Hawai‘i); desum (Palau); karasi (Solomon Islands)

Poaceae

grass

Other: potpopot, podpod-lahi (Guam-Chamorro); rtertiil (Palau)

Piperaceae

herb

Other: moemoe (Cook Islands); moemoe uouo (French Polynesia); maigo-lalo (Guam-Chamorro); te kaimatu (Kiribati); ukalla ruchel (Palau)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Other: maigo-lalo? (Guam—Chamorro)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Other: kai moku, se mbulumbulu, tho mokumoku (Fiji)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Physalis angulata

English: annual ground cherry, bladder cherry (Solomon Islands), wild cape gooseberry (Fiji); Other: tūpera tāmaru-ariki (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); kospeli, mbotembote yandra, mburasu, mborosousou, mborosousou ni vavalangi, mokoai, thevuthevu (Fiji); tamanufairi, tamaru ha‘ari (French Polynesia); tomate chaca (Guam-Chamorro); te baraki (Kiribati); watomo (Nauru); manini (Niue); bubeubedul (Palau); vivao (Samoa); polopa (Tonga)

Solanaceae

herb

Physalis minima

English: sunberry; Spanish: vejiga de perro

Solanaceae

herb

Pilea microphylla

English: artillery plant, gunpowder plant, pistol plant, rockweed, Samoan fern (Samoa); Other: kiona topa (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)), pikimaka (Niue), tamole (Samoa)

Urticaceae

herb

Polygala paniculata

English: island snake-root; Other: ai roi ni turaga, teketekeniulumatua, tekiteki ni ulumatua, senikuila, mindi, tamoli (Fiji); keskus ra mekesong (Palau); namupululola, pulunamulole (Samoa)

Polygalaceae

herb

Polygonum minus

English: smartweed

Polygonaceae

herb

Pseuderanthemum carruthersii

Other: tiare ‘āpa-mata‘iti (Cook Islands)

Acanthaceae

shrub

Pueraria montana var. lobata

English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna); a‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue‘aepuaka (Tonga); deday (Yap); acha, nepalem

Fabaceae

vine

Russelia equisetiformis

English: coralplant, fountainplant; French: plante corail; Other: menemene (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke))

Scrophulariaceae

shrub

Senna occidentalis

English: antbush, coffee senna; French: bentamaré, café bâtard, casse-puante, dartrier; Spanish: bricho, brusca, frijolillo, guanina; Other: kau mothe, pini (Fiji); amot-tumaga karabao, mumutun-sable (Guam-Chamorro); ‘auko‘i, ‘au‘auko‘i, mikipalaoa, pī hohono (Hawai‘i); te atia (Kiribati); tan brava (Nauru); korriu (Palau); te‘epulu (Tonga)

Fabaceae

shrub

Sida acuta

English: broom weed, Paddy’s lucerne, southern sida, spiny-head sida, spiny sida; French: herbe à balais, herbe à paniers; Spanish: escoba blanca, escobilla; Other: purūmu (Cook Islands); deni vuaka, ndeni vuaka, ndeniosa (Fiji); escobilla papago, escobilla adumelon (Guam-Chamorro); mautofu (Niue, Samoa); keak (Palau); motofu, te‘ehoosi (Tonga)

Malvaceae

herb

Sida rhombifolia

English: arrow-leaf sida, Cuban jute, Paddy's lucerne, Queensland-hemp, teaweed; French: faux thé, herbe à balais; Spanish: escoba; Other: purūmu (Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti)), thavuthindra, nggavi ni lawa, nggavi ni lathoi, ndenime, ndeniosa, ndeni vuaka, ndeni puaka, mbariara (Fiji); escobilla dalili, escobilla apaka, escobilla adumelon (Guam-Chamorro); motofu (Niue); keak (Palau); mautofu (Samoa, Niue?); mamafu‘ai (Solomon Islands); te‘ehosi, te‘ehoosi (Tonga)

Malvaceae

shrub

Solanum americanum

English: American nightshade, black nightshade, glossy nightshade; French: morelle noire; Other: poroporo (Cook Islands); mboro, mboro laukana, mboro ni veiwere, mboro ni yaloka ni ngata, mburosousou ni vavalangi, malhome, thevuthevu (Fiji); oupoo (French Polynesia (Marquesas)); pōpolo, ‘olohua, polopolo (Hawai‘i); pōpolohua (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)); magalo, polo (Samoa); polo kai (Tonga)

Solanaceae

herb

Sorghum bicolor

English: Sudan grass; French: sorgho du Soudan, sorgho menu; Other: tarapī (Cook Islands), kola (Tonga)

Poaceae

grass

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

English: bastard vervain, blue porterweed, Brazilian tea, Jamaica vervain, joee, light blue snakeweed; Other: ōwī, oī (Hawaii), te uti (Kiribati), louch beluu (Palau)

Verbenaceae

herb

Synedrella nodiflora

English: Cinderella weed (Australia), porter bush, pig grass (Solomon Islands, Vanuatu), synedrella; Spanish: cerbatana; Other: ngaroiarui (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); saigon (Guam—Chamorro); lau‘oti‘oti, tae‘oti (Samoa); pakaka, pakopako (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

Tridax procumbens

English: coat buttons, tridax daisy, wild daisy (Fiji, Guam); Other: tubua leka, voti (Fiji)

Asteraceae

herb

Vernonia cinerea

English: ironweed, little ironweed, vernonia; Other: vutikaumondro, tho vuka (Fiji); chaguan Santa Maria (Guam--Chamorro); etngeong (Palau); fisi puna (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb