Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Report on invasive plant species in the Cook Islands
Appendix 2. Other invasive plant species, mostly ruderal weeds or of agricultural concern, seen or reported to be present in the Cook Islands
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
English: albutilon, Indian abutilon, Indian mallow; Other: malbas, matbas (Guam-Chamorro) |
Malvaceae |
shrub |
|
Other: puapua (Cook Islands (Miti'aro)); ongo ongo (Niue); ogo ogo (Samoa); hongohongo (Tonga |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Alternanthera sessilis |
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 |
Amaranthus spinosus |
English: edlebur, needle burr, spiny amaranth, thorny pigweed; French: épinard cochon, épinard malabre; Spanish: bledo espinoso, espinaca de Malabar; Other: kulites, kuletes (Guam—Chamorro); pakai kuku (Hawai‘i) |
Amaranthaceae |
herb |
Amaranthus viridis |
English: green amaranth, pigweed, slender amaranth; French: amarante verte; Spanish: bledo; Other: va‘ine ‘ara (Cook Islands); chauriya, chauraiya, choroiya, ndriti, ngasau ni vuaka, tumua (Fiji); kuletes apaka (Guam—Chamorro); pakai, ‘aheahea, pakaikai, pakapakai (Hawai‘i); te moota (Kiribati); ‘au tasi (Samoa); spinach (Solomon Islands); tupu‘a (Tonga) |
Amaranthaceae |
herb |
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 |
|
English: bullock's-heart, custard-apple; French: annone réticulée, coeur de boeuf; Spanish: anona corazón, corazón de buey, mamán; Other: uto ni bulamakau, chotka sarifa (Fiji) |
Annonaceae |
tree |
|
English: sugar apple, sweetsop, custard apple, sugar apple; French: annone écailleuse, pomme-canelle; Other: tapotapo (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); tapotapo Māori (Cook Islands); kātara‘apa Māori (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); naponapo Māori (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); atis, ates (Guam); ngel ra ngebard (Palau), ‘apele papalangi, ‘apele Tonga (Tonga), nameana (Tuvalu) |
Annonaceae |
tree |
|
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 |
|
English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji) |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
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 |
English: anatto, annato, annatto, arnatto, lipstick tree; French: atole, roucou, roucouyer; Spanish: achiote, achote, bija; Other: ‘uaeva, tāmuramura (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)), nggisa, nggesa, qesa (Fiji), ‘uaefa (French Polynesia (Tahiti)), achiote (Guam—Chamorro); ‘alaea, ‘alaea la‘au, kumauna (Hawai‘i); burek (Palau) |
Bixaceae |
shrub |
|
English: snowbush, snowbush breynia, sweetpea bush, foliage-flower; Other: maemae (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)) |
Euphorbiaceae |
shrub |
|
Brugmansia suaveolens |
Solanaceae |
shrub |
|
English: caladium, elephant's-ear, fancy-leaf caladium, heart-of-Jesus; Other: corazon de Santa Maria (Guam-Chamorro); kalo-kalakoa (Hawai'i) |
Araceae |
herb |
|
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 |
|
Catharanthus roseus |
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 |
English: cockscomb; repe moa (French Polynesia); esechilamalk (Palau) |
Amaranthaceae |
herb |
|
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 |
|
Chamaesyce hirta |
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 |
Chamaesyce hypericifolia |
English: beach spurge, graceful spurge; Other: ufi tamaiti? (Samoa) |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
Chamaesyce prostrata |
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 |
Chloris divaricata |
English: slender chloris, star grass, star windmill grass |
Poaceae |
grass |
Chloris gayana |
English: Rhodes grass; French: chloris, herbe de Rhodes; Spanish: grama de Rodas, pasto de Rodas |
Poaceae |
grass |
Cleome viscosa |
English: tickweed, spider flower; Other: monggos-paluma, mongos-paloma (Chamorro-Guam) |
Capparaceae |
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 |
Conyza bonariensis |
English: flax-leaf fleabane, hairy fleabane, hairy horseweed, wavy-leaf fleabane; Other: lani wela (Hawai‘i) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
Conyza canadensis |
English: butterweed, Canadian horseweed, Canadian fleabane, hogweed, horseweed |
Asteraceae |
herb |
English: bittercress, swinecress, wart cress; Other: lesivao (Tonga) |
Brassicaceae |
herb |
|
English: thickhead, fireweed, redflower ragleaf; Other: fua lele, pualele (American Samoa and Samoa); maraburubo (Solomon Islands); fisi puna (Tonga); se vuka (Fiji) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
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: blue-flower rattlepod, tooth-leaf rattlepod |
Fabaceae |
herb |
|
English: cyathula; Other: mata kura (Cook Islands (Miti'aro?); tolomo'unga (Tonga) |
Amaranthaceae |
herb |
|
Cyperus compressus |
English: flat sedge; Other: pakopako (Tonga) |
Cyperaceae |
sedge |
Cyperus cyperinus |
English: long-headed sedge; Other: mue mue, mou upo tutu (French Polynesia) |
Cyperaceae |
sedge |
Cyperus cyperoides |
Other: pako (Niue); tuise (Samoa); pako pako (Tonga) |
Cyperaceae |
sedge |
Cyperus difformis |
English: dirty-Dora, one-arm sedge, rice sedge, small-flower umbrella-plant, variable flat sedge |
Cyperaceae |
sedge |
English: long-leaf cyrtococcum grass; Other: thovatu, osalasala (Fiji) |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: short-leaf cyrtococcum grass |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: beach wiregrass, button grass, coast button grass, comb fringe grass, crowfoot grass, duck grass, finger comb grass |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: datura, downy thorn-apple, Hindu datura, Hindu thorn-apple, hoary thorn-apple, horn-of-plenty, jimson-weed, purple thorn-apple; Spanish: burladora; Other: pūāve (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Ngaputoru?)); te uri ni tiana (Kiribati) |
Solanaceae |
herb |
|
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 |
|
Desmodium gangeticum |
Fabaceae |
herb |
|
Desmodium heterocarpon |
Other: okula beluu (Palau) |
Fabaceae |
herb |
Desmodium heterophyllum |
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 |
Desmodium scorpiurus |
Fabaceae |
herb |
|
Desmodium triflorum |
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 |
|
English Y grass; Other: creeping kūkaepua‘a (Hawai‘i) |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
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 |
|
Eclipta prostrata |
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 |
English: African oil palm; French: palmier à huile d'Afrique; Other: nū tāmara (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); apwiraiasi (Pohnpei) |
Arecaceae |
tree |
|
Elephantopus mollis |
English: elephantopus, elephant’s foot, false tobacco, tobacco weed; French: faux tabac; Other: tapuvae ‘erepani, tapuae ‘erepani, vaevae ‘erepani, tapua ‘erepani? (Cook Islands); tavako ni veikau, jangli tambaku (Fiji); papago' vaca, papago' halom tano, papago' baka, papago' halomtano' (Guam); lata hina, lau veveli (Tonga) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
Eleutheranthera ruderalis |
Other: pakaka (Tonga) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
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 |
|
English: Bug's egg grass, Japanese love grass, love grass (Fiji, Guam), female grass (Kiribati); Other: te uteute naine (Kiribati), ouemoket (Palau) |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: elastic grass, love grass |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
Erechtites valerianifolia |
English: Brazilian fireweed, fireweed, fireweed daisy, Ceylon thistle; Other: co vuka, thovuka (Fiji); fua lele, pua lele (Samoa); fisi puna (Tonga) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
Eriochloa procera |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: dwarf poinsettia, fire-on-the-mountain, Mexican fire plant, painted spurge, wild poinsettia; Other: te kabekan (Kiribati); deriba (Nauru) |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
|
English: fennel; French: fenouil; Spanish: hinojo; Other: taretare tui-‘ei (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); pan mauri, sonf? (Fiji); anis hinoho (Guam—Chamorro); taletale (Niue) |
Apiaceae |
herb |
|
English: climbing-lily, creeping-lily, flame-lily, glory-lily, gloriosa lily; Other: riri vavai-moa (Cook Islands ('Atiu)) |
Liliaceae |
herb |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
English: star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other: pua hōkū (Hawai‘i); udel ra badrei (Palau) |
Campanulaceae |
herb |
|
English: garden impatiens, balsam, busy lizzy, bizzy-lizzie, patient lucy; sultan’s flower, Japanese balsam (Fiji) |
Balsaminaceae |
succulent |
|
English: moonflower; Other: alaihai-tasi (Guam-Chamorro); koali pehu (Hawai‘i), fue sina, fue to (Samoa) |
Convolvulaceae |
vine |
|
Convolvulaceae |
vine |
||
Jasminum sambac |
English: Arabian jasmine; French: jasmin d'Arabie; Spanish: jazmín de Arabia; Other: pītate papa‘ā (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); sampagita (Guam—Chamorro) |
Oleaceae |
vine |
Justicia betonica |
English: white shrimp plant, squirrel's tail |
Acanthaceae |
herb |
English: peppergrass, Virginia peppercress, Virginia pepperweed, wild peppercress; Spanish: cresón (Peru), mancuerno (Peru), escobilla (Venezuela); Other: naunau (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)) |
Brassicaceae |
herb |
|
Ludwigia octovalvis |
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 |
Luffa aegyptiaca |
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 |
English: tomato, wild tomato; French: tomate sauvage (New Caledonia); Spanish: tomate, tomatera; Other: tōmāti (Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti)); tomate (Guam—Chamorro) |
Solanaceae |
herb |
|
English: false mallow, prickly malvastrum; Other: purūmu (Cook Islands); te‘ehosi, te‘ehoosi (Tonga) |
Malvaceae |
herb |
|
English: yellow wood rose; Other: sovivi (Fiji) |
Convolvulaceae |
vine |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Nelumbo nucifera |
English: East Indian lotus, lotus, lotusroot, oriental lotus, sacred lotus; French: fève d'Egypte, lotus indien, lotus sacré; Spanish: loto sagrado, rosa del Nilo |
Nelumbonaceae |
aquatic herb |
Rubiaceae |
herb |
||
English: basket grass, woods grass; Other: honohono kukui, honohono, honohono maoli (Hawai‘i) |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: cat’s whiskers; Other: kumi ni pusi (Fiji), chemadecharebub, emadecharebub (Palau), ‘ava pusi (Samoa), kava ‘i pusi (Tonga) |
Lamiaceae |
herb |
|
English: pink wood-sorrel, lilac oxalis; Other: ‘ihi pehu (Hawai‘i), ‘ii (Samoa) |
Oxalidaceae |
herb |
|
English: paspalum, dallis grass, water grass; French: paspalum dilaté, herbe sirop, herbe de miel, herbe de dallis, millet bâtard; Other: hiku nua (Niue) |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
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 |
|
Peperomia pellucida |
Other: potpopot, podpod-lahi (Guam-Chamorro); rtertiil (Palau) |
Piperaceae |
herb |
English: avocado, alligator pear; French: l’avocat; Spanish: aguacate; Other: ‘āpuka, ‘āpoka (Cook Islands); pea (Fiji); avoka (Niue, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga); ‘āvōta (Cook Islands (Ngaputoru)); bata (Palau); alageta (Chamorro, Guam) |
Lauraceae |
tree |
|
Phyllanthus amarus |
Other: moemoe (Cook Islands); moemoe uouo (French Polynesia); maigo-lalo (Guam-Chamorro); te kaimatu (Kiribati); ukalla ruchel (Palau) |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
Phyllanthus debilis |
Other: maigo-lalo? (Guam—Chamorro) |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
Phyllanthus tenellus |
English: long-stalk phyllanthus, Mascarene Island leaf-flower |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
Phyllanthus urinaria |
Other: kai moku, se mbulumbulu, tho mokumoku (Fiji) |
Euphorbiaceae |
herb |
Phyllanthus virgatus |
English: seed-under-leaf (Samoa); Other: moemoe 'enua? (Cook Islands); tei ni niu (Fiji); 'avasa (Samoa) |
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 peruviana |
English: Cape gooseberry, goldenberry, gooseberry-tomato, Peruvian ground-cherry, Peruvian-cherry; French: capuli, coqueret du Peru, groseiller du cap; Spanish: alquequenje, capulí, uvilla (Ecuador); Other: tūpera (Cook Islands); botebote yadra, mbotembote yandra, kospeli, maulaqua, maulanggua, tukiyadra, tukiyandra (Fiji); tupere (French Polynesia), pohā, pa‘ina (Hawai‘i); manini (Niue); ku‘usi (Tonga) |
Solanaceae |
shrub |
Phytolacca octandra |
Engish: pokeweed, Southern pokeberry, ink weed (Australia) |
Phytolaccaceae |
shrub |
English: artillery plant, gunpowder plant, pistol plant, rockweed, Samoan fern (Samoa); Other: kiona topa (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)), pikimaka (Niue), tamole (Samoa) |
Urticaceae |
herb |
|
Plantago lanceolata |
English: buckhorn, buckhorn plantain, English plantain, narrow-leaved plantain, plantain (Vanuatu), ribgrass, ribwort plantain; French: petit plantain; Spanish: llantén menor; Other: filo, filohako (Tonga) |
Plantaginaceae |
herb |
Plantago major |
English: broadleaf plantain, common plantain, greater plantain; French: grand plantain, plantain majeur; Spanish: llantén, llantén común, llantén major; Other: laukahi, kūhēkili (Hawai‘i); filo, filomatolu (Tonga) |
Plantaginaceae |
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 |
Portulaca oleracea |
English: pigweed, purslane; French: pourpier; Spanish: verdolaga; Other: pōkea papa‘ā (Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tuamotus)); katuri (Cook Islands (Penrhyn)); ongoongo (Cook Islands (Pukapuka)); taukuku ni vuaka, taukuka ni vuaka, amlonia (Fiji); aturi (French Polynesia (Tahiti); botdolagas, bodulagas, donkulu (Guam-Chamorro); ‘ākulikuli kula, ‘ākulikuli lau li‘i, ‘ihi (Hawai‘i); te boi (Kirbati); kamole (Niue); pokea (Niue, French Polynesia (Marquesas, Tuamotu)); tamole (Samoa, Tonga) |
Portulacaceae |
herb |
English: false elephant foot, tobacco weed (Vanuatu), Yasawa tobacco weed (Fiji); French: faux tabac des Samoa; Spanish: hierba de caballo (Columbia); Other: vao elefane, vao maligi, vao malini (Samoa) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
Other: tiare ‘āpa-mata‘iti (Cook Islands) |
Acanthaceae |
shrub |
|
English: tropical kudzu, puero; Other: kūkū (Cook Islands (‘Aitu)) |
Fabaceae |
vine |
|
English: coralplant, fountainplant; French: plante corail; Other: menemene (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)) |
Scrophulariaceae |
shrub |
|
Salvia coccinea |
English: red salvia, red sage, scarlet sage, Texas sage, tropical sage, wild salvia (Fiji); Other: titānia (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); līlīlehua (Hawai‘i); momili (Niue); te'ekosi (Tonga) |
Lamiaceae |
herb |
Salvia occidentalis |
English: blue sage, West Indian sage; Other: mauku 'aunga-kino (Cook Islands (Ma'uke)); pupu elo, sealu (Niue); te'ekosi totolo (Tonga) |
Lamiaceae |
herb |
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
English: Indian weed, small yellow crown-beard, yellow crown-head; Other: kamika (Cook Islands (Mangaia)), senikata (Fiji) ‘a‘ami‘a (Samoa), kakamika (Tonga, Wallis and Futuna) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
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 |
|
English: coleus; Other: terevete (Cook Islands); lata, lau lata (Fiji); weleweka (Hawai‘i); selevese (Niue); koramahd, koaramahd (Pohnpei); pate, patiale, la‘au fai sei (Samoa) |
Lamiaceae |
herb |
|
English: annual sow thistle, common sow thistle, hare's-lettuce, milk thistle, sow thistle; Spanish: cerraja; Other: pū‘ā (Cook Islands); pualele (Hawai‘i), pupe lele, puha, puna (Niue); longolongo'uha (Tonga) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
Sorghum bicolor |
English: Sudan grass; French: sorgho du Soudan, sorgho menu; Other: tarapī (Cook Islands), kola (Tonga) |
Poaceae |
grass |
Spermacoce assurgens |
English: buttonweed; Other: okulabeluu (Palau) |
Rubiaceae |
herb |
Stenotaphrum secundatum |
English: buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass; French: chiendent de boeuf; Spanish: pasto San Augustín; Other: ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie ‘aki‘aki, mānienie ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie māhikihiki (Hawai‘i) |
Poaceae |
grass |
Stictocardia tiliifolia |
English: stictocardia, crimson morning-glory; Other: abubo (Guam-Chamorro); pilikai (Hawai‘i); tagamimi, palulu (Samoa) |
Convolvulaceae |
vine |
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 |
Taraxacum officinale |
English: common dandelion, dandelion, lion's-tooth; French: dent de lion, pissenlit vulgaire; Spanish: achicoria amarga, amargón, diente de león; Other: laulele, lauhele (Hawai‘i) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
English: Spanish moss, old man's beard, grandfather’s whiskers, air plant; French: cheveaux du roi, barbe grise, fille de l'air |
Bromeliaceae |
bromeliad |
|
English: coat buttons, tridax daisy, wild daisy (Fiji, Guam); Other: tubua leka, voti (Fiji) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
Poaceae |
grass |
||
English: creeping panic grass, running grass; Spanish: San Juan de Castillo |
Poaceae |
grass |
|
English: ironweed, little ironweed, vernonia; Other: vutikaumondro, tho vuka (Fiji); chaguan Santa Maria (Guam--Chamorro); etngeong (Palau); fisi puna (Tonga) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
English: Australian burr (Cook Islands), California-bur, cocklebur, noogoora burr; Other: ovuka, nggatima ni vavalangi, qatima ni vavalagi (Fiji), kikania (Hawai‘i) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
|
Youngia japonica |
English: oriental hawksbeard; Other: mosita ni Viti (Fiji) |
Asteraceae |
herb |
Yucca aloifolia |
English: daggerplant, Spanish-bayonet; French: bayonnette; Spanish: yuca |
Agavaceae |
shrub |
Ziziphus jujuba |
English: Chinese jujube, Chinese date, Chinese plum, common jujube; French: jujubier commun; Spanish: azufaifo; Other: ber (Fiji) |
Rhamnaceae |
tree |
Sources: Cook Islands Natural Heritage Project, Swarbrick (1997), Waterhouse (1997), Bill Sykes (pers. com.)
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This page updated 5 May 2003.