Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Report on invasive plant species in Kiribati


Appendix 1.  Invasive Species


Table 4. Other species that are reported as invasive or weedy elsewhere and are common, weedy or cultivated on Tarawa, Abemama, Butaritari or Maiana

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
Agave americana English: American aloe, century plant; Other: maguey (Guam-Chamorro) Agavaceae succulent
Agave sisalana English: sisal, sisal hemp; Other: ndali, natali (Fiji), malina (Hawai’i), te robu, te rob’ (Kiribati) Agavaceae succulent
Amaranthus viridis English: green amaranth, pigweed, slender amaranth; French: amarante verte; 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 mota (Kiribati); ‘au tasi (Samoa); spinach (Solomon Islands); tupu‘a (Tonga) Amaranthaceae herb
*#Annona squamosa 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
Asclepias curassavica English: bastard ipecac, blood flower, bloodflower milkweed, butterfly weed, false ipecac, milkweed; French: herbe a gendarme, ipéca sauvage; Other: tirika, tiare moko (Cook Islands); false ipiciachuana, wathiwathi, vu ni lolia, madhar (Fiji); laulele, lauhele, nu‘umela, pua ‘anuhe (Hawai’i); pepetoa, vaomumu, vao fualele (Samoa); lou pepe, tu‘ulapepe (Tonga) Asclepiadaceae herb
*Asystasia gangetica English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel Acanthaceae herb
Bambusa spp. English: bamboo; French: terna; Other: iich (Chuuk); ko‘e papa‘ā (Cook Islands); bitu (Fiji); ‘ohe (French Polynesia, Hawai’i); ‘ofe (French Polynesia, Samoa), pi‘ao, pi‘ao palaoan (Guam and Northern Marianas-Chamorro); bwai (Guam and Northern Marianas-Carolinian); �terna (Kosrae); te kaibaba (Kiribati); bae, koba (Marshall Islands); kaho palangi (Niue); pehri en sapahn (Pohnpei); bambuu, esel (Palau); ‘ofe Fiti, ‘ofe palagi (Samoa); kofe (Tonga, Tuvalu); pitu (Tonga); pampu (Tuvalu); moor (Yap) Poaceae tree
Brassica juncea English: Chinese mustard, India mustard, Indian mustard, Oriental mustard; Other: sausi (Fiji); mostaza (Guam-Chamorro); te kabiti, te kabiti n Tiaina (Kiribati) Brassicaceae herb
*#Breynia disticha English: snowbush, snowbush breynia, sweetpea bush, foliage-flower; Other: maemae (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Bryophyllum delagoense English: chandelier plant Crassulaceae succulent
*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
*Calotropis gigantea English: calotrope, crown flower, madar; French: mercure �ternal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai’i); tahinu (French Polynesia); te bumorimori (Kiribati Ascelepiadaceae shrub
Calyptocarpus vialis   Asteraceae herb
*Canna indica English: canna, canna lily, Indian shot; French: balisier comestible, tous-les-mois; Other: fanamanu, fagamanu, fa‘I masoa (American Samoa and Samoa); nūāenga (Cook Islands); tiare papa‘ā (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); pia renga (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); gasau ni ga (Fiji); pia-raroto‘a (French Polynesia); fagafaga (Futuna); mongos halum-tano (Guam); ali‘ipoe, li’ipoe, poloka (Hawai’i); te riti (Kiribati), luiuenwai (Pohnpei); apeellap, oruuru (Puluwat); te misimisi (Tonga) Cannaceae herb
Casuarina equisetifolia English: casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; French: arbe de fer; Other: toa (American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hawai’i, Niue, Samoa and Tonga); weeku (Chuuk); nokonoko, nokonoko ndamu, nggaro, thau, velau, nakure, qaro (Fiji); ‘aito (French Polynesia (Society Islands)); gagu, gago (Guam, CNMI-Chamorro); weighu (CNMI-Carolinian); pientri (pinetree), bû ukam (bluegum on some atolls), nidil, nidõ (needle on some atolls), te burukam, te katurina (Kiribati); mejinoki (Marshall Islands); agas, agasu, ngas, ngasu (Palau); ueuhir (Satawal); neokuk, ueoku, ueokuk (Satawan); lach (Ulithi); laash (Woleai); noc, nach (Yap); te katurina (from Ecoport, source not given) Casuarinaceae tree
Catharanthus roseus English: Cape periwinkle, Madagascar periwinkle, old-maid, rose periwinkle, rosy periwinkle; French: pervenche 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)); te buraroti (Kiribati) Apocynaceae herb
Cenchrus ciliaris English: buffelgrass, African foxtail grass, anjan grass; French: cenchrus cilié Poaceae grass
Chamaecrista nictitans English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna; Other: lauki (Hawai’i); kobo-cha, nemu-cha (Japan) Fabaceae shrub
Chamaesyce thymifolia English: red caustic creeper, thyme-leafed spurge Euphorbiaceae herb
Chloris barbata English: swollen fingergrass, purpletop chloris (Australia), airport grass (Fiji); Other: mau’u lei (Hawai’i) Poaceae grass
Cleome viscosa English: tickweed, spider flower; Other: monggos-paluma, mongos-paloma (Chamorro-Guam) Capparaceae herb
*Clitoria ternatea English: butterfly pea, Asian pigeonwings; French: honte; Other: buikike, bukike, paokeke, bukike paokeke, capa de la reina, �tern de la raina (Guam); putitainubia (CNMI); pepe (Niue); kles (Palau); latoela, nawa (Fiji), paipa (Tonga) Fabaceae vine
Conyza bonariensis English: flax-leaf fleabane, hairy fleabane, hairy horseweed, wavy-leaf fleabane; Other: lani wela (Hawai’i) Asteraceae herb
Crotalaria incana English: fuzzy rattlepod, woolly rattlepod; Other: kūkaehoki, kolomona (Hawai’i); kuroteraria (Palau) Fabaceae shrub
Crotalaria retusa English: devil-bean, wedge-leaf crotalaria, wedge-leaf rattlepod; Other: piini? (Tonga) Fabaceae herb
Crotalaria spectabilis English: rattlebox, showy crotalaria, showy rattlebox, showy rattlepod; French: crotalaire remarquable; Other: kolomona (Hawai’i); ha’apai (Tonga) Fabaceae herb
Cynodon dactylon English: Bermuda grass, giant Bermuda grass, bahama grass, devil’s grass, couch grass, Indian doab, grama, devilgrass, couchgrass, balama grass; French: chiendent, petit chiendent, chiendent pied-de-poule; Other: matie (Cook Islands); manini, manienie (Hawai’i); motie molulu (Niue); kambuta, kabuta (Fiji); mosie molulu (Niue); herbe de couverture (New Caledonia); pasto �ternal, zacate �ternal, grama dulce, gramón, hierba fina, grama-seda, (from Ecoport, no source given) Poaceae grass
Dactyloctenium aegyptium English: beach wiregrass, button grass, coast button grass, comb fringe grass, crowfoot grass, duck grass, finger comb grass; Other: te uteute (Kiribati) Poaceae grass
Delonix regia English:  flame tree, flamboyant, �ternal�i; French: pacayer; 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 kaitetua (Kiribati); pine (Niue); nangiosákura, nangiosikura, nangyo (Palau); pilampwoia weitahta (Pohnpei); tamaligi (Samoa); ‘ohai (Tonga); fua tausaga (Tuvalu); sakuranirow (Yap) Fabaceae tree
Desmodium incanum English: kaimi clover, Spanish clover; Other: ngātoro (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); ka‘imi (Hawai’i) Fabaceae shrub
Desmodium tortuosum English: Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, �tern ticktrefoil Fabaceae herb
Desmodium triflorum English: creeping tick trefoil, three-flower beggarweed, tropical trefoil; Other: olmud (Palau); konikoni, vakathengu (Fiji); kihikihi (Tonga) Fabaceae herb
Eleusine indica   English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow’s foot, bullgrass; French: pied de poule; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); mauku mārōki‘aki‘a (Cook Islands); kavoronaisivi, vorovoroisivi, ghoraya (Fiji); tamamau (French Polynesia), umog (Guam); manienie ali‘I (Hawaii); te uteute, te uteute na banabana (Kiribati); mahkwekwe (Kosrae); katejukjuk (Marshall Islands); mosie fahitalo (Niue); deskim, kelelamalk, keteketarmalk (Palau); reh takai (Pohnpei); takataka, takataka ‘a leala, mohuku siamane (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Eleutheranthera ruderalis Other: pakaka (Tonga) Asteraceae herb
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
Euphorbia cyathophora English: dwarf poinsettia, fire-on-the-mountain, Mexican fire plant, painted spurge, wild poinsettia; Other: te kabekau (Kiribati); deriba (Nauru) Euphorbiaceae herb
*†Ficus benghalensis English: banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; French: figuier des �ternal; Other: pulu (Samoa) Moraceae tree
*†Gliricidia sepium English: mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac; Other: rechesengel (Palau) Fabaceae tree
*Gloriosa superba English: climbing-lily, creeping-lily, flame-lily, glory-lily, gloriosa lily; Other: riri vavai-moa (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)) Liliaceae herb
Gomphrena globosa English: bachelor’s-button, bozu, globe amaranth, pearly everlasting; French: amarantine; Other: pōkai kura (Cook Islands); poe ura (French Polynesia); buton agaga (Guam-Chamorro); lehua mau loa, lehua, lehua pepa, leihua (Hawai’i); te motiti, te moteti (Kiribati); malila (Niue, Samoa); botang (Palau) Amaranthaceae herb
Heliotropium procumbens var. depressum English: four-spike heliotrope, slender heliotrope Boraginaceae herb
Hemigraphis reptans   Acanthaceae herb
*Ipomoea aquatica English: aquatic morning glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach, ung-choi, kang kong; French: liseron d'eau, patate aquatique; Other: aseri, seeri, seri (Chuuk); rukau taviri? (Cook Islands); ota karisa, ota karisi, wa kumala, ndrinikava, luve ne tombithi (Fiji), akankong, cancon, kangkun, kangkung, kankan (Guam); te kang kong, te ruku (Kiribati); lorenzo (Nauru), kankum, kangum, kangkum (Palau); lili vai (Samoa); kangkong (Ulithi, Yap); kangking, kongkong (Yap) Convolvulaceae aquatic herb
Jasminum sambac English: Arabian jasmine; French: jasmin d'Arabie; Other: pītate papa‘ā (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); sampagita (Guam—Chamorro); te bitati (Kiribati) Oleaceae vine
Kyllinga nemoralis English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other: neke ‘enua (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke, Ngaputoru?)); chaguan lemae, botoncillo (Guam—Chamorro); kili‘o‘opu, mau‘u mokae (Hawai’i), ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a vili taliga, matie upo‘o, matie Tahiti, mo‘u upo‘onui, mo‘u upo‘o, tuise (Samoa); pakopako, pakopako ‘ae kuma (Tahiti); tuise (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
*Lantana camara English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa); tātarāmoa papa‘ā (Cook Islands); tātarāmoa (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); kauboica, kaumboitha, mbonambulumakau, mbona ra mbulumakau, tokalau, waiwai, lanitana (Fiji); tarataramoa, taratara hamoa (French Polynesia); latora moa (French Polynesia (Tahiti)); lakana, la‘au kalakala, lanakana (Ni‘ihau), mikinolia hihiu, mikinolia hohono, mikinolia kuku (Hawai’i); ros fonacni (Kosrae); te kaibuaka (Kiribati); migiroa (Nauru), landana, rantana, rahndana, tukasuweth (Pohnpei); talatala, talatala talmoa (Tonga) Verbenaceae shrub
#Licuala grandis English: ruffled fan palm; French: palmier-cuillère Arecaceae tree (palm)
Malvastrum coromandelianum English: false mallow, prickly malvastrum; Other: purūmu (Cook Islands); te‘ehosi, te‘ehoosi (Tonga) Malvaceae herb
Melinis repens English: Natal redtop, Natal grass, red Natal grass, Holme's grass, blanketgrass; French: herbe du Natal, herbe rose, herbe pappangue; tricholène (New Caledonia); Other: salapona (Tonga) Poaceae grass
*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; 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
Ocimum basilicum English: wild basil, clove basil, sweet basil, tree basil; French: basilic, menthe gabonaise; Other: miri tītā, miri tūtae puaka, miri nganga‘ere, miri tūpāpaku (Cook Islands); miri papa‘ā, miri taratoni (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); te marou (Kiribati); la’au sauga (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Oldenlandia corymbosa   Rubiaceae herb
Paspalum fimbriatum English: fimbriate paspalum, winged paspalum, Panama paspalum, Panama crowngrass, Columbia grass Poaceae grass
Paspalum scrobiculatum English: rice grass; creeping paspalum, ditch millet, Indian paspalum, kodo millet, water couch; 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
Paspalum setaceum   Poaceae grass
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, te bin (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; Other: tūpera (Cook Islands); botebote yadra, mbotembote yandra, kospeli, maulaqua, maulanggua, tukiyadra, tukiyandra (Fiji); tupere (French Polynesia), pohā, pa‘ina (Hawai’i); te baraki, te bin (Kiribati); manini (Niue); ku‘usi (Tonga) Solanaceae shrub
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
Portulaca oleracea English: pigweed, purslane; French: pourpier; 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
*Pseuderanthemum carruthersii English: false eranthemum; Other: tiare ‘āpa-mata‘iti (Cook Islands); te iaro (Kiribati) Acanthaceae shrub
Psidium guajava English: guava; French: goyavier; Other: ku‘ava (American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa); kuafa (Chuuk); tūava, tūvava (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); quwawa, nguava, ngguava ni India, amrut (Fiji); tumu tuava (French Polynesia); abas guayaba (Galapagos); abas, abas guayaba (Guam, Saipan-Chamorro, Yap); kuawa, kuawa ke‘oke‘o, kuawa lemi, kuawa momona, pauwa (Hawai’i); kuhfahfah (Kosrae); te kuawa, te kuwawa (Kiribati); kuwawa (Nauru); kautoga, kautonga, kautoga tane, kautonga tane (Niue); guabang, kuabang (Palau); guahva, kuahpa (Pohnpei); apas (Saipan); abwas (Saipan-Carolinian) Myrtaceae tree
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
*Sansevieria trifasciata English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue; French: chanvre d'Afrique; Other: riri (Cook Islands); tigre (Guam), kitelel (Palau) Agavaceae herb
Sida acuta broom weed, southern sida, spiny sida Malvaceae herb
Sida rhombifolia English: arrow-leaf sida, Cuban jute, Paddy's lucerne, Queensland-hemp, teaweed; French: faux thé, herbe à balais; 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
*Solenostemon scutellarioides 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
Sonchus oleraceus English: annual sow thistle, common sow thistle, hare's-lettuce, milk thistle, sow thistle; Other: pū‘ā (Cook Islands); pualele (Hawai‘i), pupe lele, puha, puna (Niue); longolongo'uha (Tonga) Asteraceae herb
Sporobolus indicus English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum English: buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass; French: chiendent de boeuf; Other: ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie ‘aki‘aki, mānienie ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie māhikihiki (Hawai‘i) Poaceae grass
Tecoma stans English: yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush; Other: tekoma (Cook Islands); piti (French Polynesia, Tonga); nei Karairai (Kiribati); peeal (Puluwat) Bignoniaceae small tree
Urochloa subquadripara English: brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Poaceae grass
Ziziphus mauritiana English: Indian jujube, Chinese date, Chinee apple; Other: manzanas, manzanita, jujube (Guam); baer, bahir, baher (Fiji) Rhamnaceae tree

* Cultivated or, if not seen, most likely in cultivation
Reported present by Fosberg et al. (1979)
‡Reported present by Swarbrick (1997)
#Reported present by Thaman (1987)


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