Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Report on invasive plant species in Palau (2002 survey)
Appendix 2. Other invasive plant species, mostly ruderal weeds or of agricultural concern
Table 1.
Other invasive plant species not seen or reported to be present in Palau
Table 2. Other
invasive plant species seen or reported to be present in Palau
Table 1. Other invasive plant species not seen or reported to be present in Palau
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Abutilon grandifolium | English: hairy abutilon | Malvaceae | shrub |
English: abutilon-hemp, butterprint, buttonweed, China-jute, Indian-mallow, Tientsin-jute, velvetleaf, velvetweed | Malvaceae | herb | |
English: chikakai, piquant sappan, sappan, soap pod | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Acalypha alopecuroides | English: foxtail copperleaf | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
Acanthocereus tetragonus | English: barbed-wire cactus, sword-pear, triangle cactus | Cactaceae | succulent |
Other: mbotembotekoro (Fiji) | Asteraceae | herb | |
English: budda pea, curly-indigo, hard sola, Indian joint-vetch, kat sola, northern joint-vetch, sensitive jointed vetch, sensitive vetch | Fabaceae | herb | |
Alternanthera pungens | English: khaki weed; Spanish: hierba del pollo | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Amaranthus blitum | English: amaranth, livid amaranth, slender amaranth; French: amarante livide; Spanish: bledo; Other: tupu'a (Tonga) | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Amaranthus cruentus | English: bush greens, purple amaranth, red amaranth, red shank; French: amarante étalée, queue de renard; Spanish: achita, bledo | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Amaranthus interruptus | English: amaranth | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Ammannia auriculata | Lythraceae | herb | |
Anagallis arvensis | English: bird's-eye, poor-man's weatherglass, red chickweed, scarlet pimpernel, shepherd's-weatherglass; French: buglosse des champs, mouron des champs; Spanish: murajes | Primulaceae | herb |
Axonopus fissifolius | English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass | Poaceae | grass |
Blainvillea gayana | Asteraceae | herb | |
Borreria verticillata | Rubiaceae | herb | |
Brachiaria eruciformis | English: sweet signal grass | Poaceae | grass |
Brassica juncea | English: Chinese mustard, India mustard, Indian mustard, Oriental mustard; Spanish: mostaza india; Other: sausi (Fiji); mostaza (Guam-Chamorro) | Brassicaceae | herb |
Brugmansia suaveolens | Solanaceae | shrub | |
Cajanus scarabaeoides | English: peanut grass (Fiji), tropical clover (Fiji) | Fabaceae | vine |
Calotis lappulacea | English: bur daisy, yellow daisy burr | Asteraceae | herb |
Centaurea melitensis | English: Maltese cockspur, Maltese star thistle, Napa thistle, yellow star thistle; French: coix de Malte | Asteraceae | herb |
Centaurium spicatum | English: spiked centaury | Gentianaceae | fern |
Chenopodium ambrosioides | English: American wormseed, bluebush, Jerusalem tea, Mexican tea, Spanish-tea, wormseed; French: ambroisie du Mexique, herbe a puces; Spanish: apazote, aposote, epazote, hierba hormiguera, pazote, paico (Peru); Other: wai ni ukuwomu (Fiji); apasotes, alapasotes (Chamorro-Guam) | Chenopodiaceae | herb |
Chenopodium murale | English: Australian-spinach, green fat hen, nettle-leaf goosefoot, salt-green, sowbane | Chenopodiaceae | 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 |
Chloris virgata | English: feather finger grass, feathered chloris, feathertop Rhodes grass, feathery Rhodes grass, oldland grass, sweet grass; Spanish: verdillo plumerito, zacate pluma | Poaceae | grass |
Cirsium vulgare | English: spear thistle, Scotch thistle, bull thistle, black thistle, plume thistle; Other: pua kali (Hawai'i) | Asteraceae | herb |
Cleome spinosa | English: spiny spider-flower | Capparaceae | herb |
Commelina benghalensis | English: Benghal dayflower, dayflower, hairy wandering Jew, wandering Jew; Other: hairy honohono (Hawai‘i); mau'u Tonga (Samoa); kanini, kaningi, musie matala pulu (Tonga) | Commelinaceae | herb |
Conyza aegyptiaca | English: fleabane | Asteraceae | herb |
Conyza sumatrensis | English: broadleaf fleabane, tall fleabane; Other: wavuwavu, tho ni vavalangi, tho ni papalangi, tumbua, thovuka, matakaro (Fiji); pakaka (Tonga) | Asteraceae | herb |
Corchorus olitorius | English: Jew's mallow, jute, Nalta jute, tossa jute; French: corète potagère; Spanish: yute; Other: melokhia (Fiji) | Tiliaceae | herb |
Corchorus trilocularis | Tiliaceae | herb | |
Coronopus didymus | English: bittercress, swinecress, wart cress; Other: lesivao (Tonga) | Brassicaceae | herb |
Cotula australis | Engllish: bachelor's-button, carrotweed, common cotula, Australian brass buttons | Asteraceae | herb |
Crotalaria linifolia | English: narrow-leaved crotalaria | Fabaceae | herb |
Crotalaria quinquefolia | English: rattlepod; Other: mboa (Fiji); kaskabeles, cascanetas (Chamorro-Guam) | Fabaceae | herb |
Crotalaria retusa | English: devil-bean, wedge-leaf crotalaria, wedge-leaf rattlepod; Spanish: cascabel fétido; Other: piini? (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Crotalaria verrucosa | English: blue-flower rattlepod, tooth-leaf rattlepod | Fabaceae | herb |
Cuphea carthagenensis | English: Columbian cuphea, Colombian waxweed, tarweed; Other: lasahia, kerisi (Fiji); laau fau moti (Samoa) | Lythraceae | herb |
Cuscuta cassytoides | Cuscutaceae | herb | |
Cyathula prostrata | English: cyathula; Other: mata kura (Cook Islands (Miti'aro?); tolomo'unga (Tonga) | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Ciclospermum leptophyllum | English: fir-leaved celery, marsh parsley, slender celery | Apiaceae | herb |
Cymbopogon refractus | English: barbwire grass, soap grass; Other: ramga, othangithangi, thoyangiyangi (Fiji); aretu monoi, aretu noanoa (French Polynesia) | Poaceae | grass |
Cyperus cyperoides | Other: pako (Niue); tuise (Samoa); pako pako (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Cyperus gracilis | English: McCoy grass, slender sedge, whisker grass, whisker sedge; Other: mau‘u hunehune (Hawai‘i) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Cyperus ligularis | English: rocket sedge, swamp flatsedge | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum | English: short-leaf cyrtococcum grass | Poaceae | grass |
Dactylis glomerata | English: barnyard grass, cocksfoot, cockspur, orchard grass; French: dactyle pelotonné, gramen pelotonné; Spanish: jopillo | Poaceae | grass |
Datura ferox | English: fierce thorn-apple, large thorn-apple, long-spine thorn-apple | Solanaceae | herb |
Datura inoxia | English: angel's-trumpet, downy thorn-apple, Indian-apple, sacred datura, thorn-apple; French: datura innocente; Spanish: cacaito | Solanaceae | herb |
Datura stramonium | English: datura, jimsonweed, moonflower, purple thorn-apple, thorn-apple; French: datura stramoine, herbe des taupes, pomme épineuse; Spanish: datura manzana, estramonio, tapa; Other: hurhur (Fiji); lā’au hānō, kīkānia, kīkānia haole (Hawai‘i) | Solanaceae | herb |
Desmodium scorpiurus | Fabaceae | herb | |
Desmodium uncinatum | English: silverleaf desmodium, Spanish clover, Spanish tick-clover; Spanish: desmodio plateado, pega pega | Fabaceae | herb |
Dichanthium annulatum | English: Angleton grass, bluestem, Diaz bluestem, Hindi grass, Kleberg bluestem, marvel grass, sheda grass, vunda blue grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Digitaria eriantha | English: common finger grass, digit grass, pangola grass, woolly finger grass; French: digitaria; Spanish: pangola, pasto pangola | Poaceae | grass |
Digitaria horizontalis | Poaceae | grass | |
Digitaria sanguinalis | English: crab finger grass, hairy crabgrass, large crabgrass, manne terrestre, panic sanguin, summer grass; Spanish: garrachuelo | Poaceae | grass |
Diplotaxis muralis | English: wall rocket | Brassicaceae | herb |
Drymaria cordata | English: drymaria, tropical chickweed, West Indian chickweed; French: mourron blanc; Other: pipili, pilipili (Hawai‘i) | Caryophyllaceae | herb |
Echinochloa stagnina | English: barnyard grass, burgu grass, hippo grass, long-awn water grass; Other: bangara gaddi (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Eleutheranthera ruderalis | Other: pakaka (Tonga) | Asteraceae | herb |
Emex australis | English: doublegee, spiny emex, three-corner Jack | Polygonaceae | herb |
Polygonaceae | herb | ||
Emilia coccinea | English: Flora’s paintbrush, tasselflower | Asteraceae | herb |
Emilia fosbergii | Other: pualele (Hawai‘i—Ni‘ihau) | Asteraceae | herb |
Eragrostis elongata | English: clustered lovegrass (Australia) | Poaceae | grass |
Eragrostis tenuifolia | English: elastic grass, love grass | Poaceae | grass |
Eragrostis tremula | Poaceae | grass | |
Eragrostis unioloides | 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 |
Eryngium foetidum | English: false coriander, shadow-beni, stinkweed; French: azier la fièvre, chardon étoilé; Spanish: culantro | Apiaceae | herb |
Euphorbia helioscopia | English: sun spurge | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
Euphorbia heterophylla | English: Mexican fireplant, milkweed, painted euphorbia, painted spurge, paintedleaf, wild spurge; French: caca poule; Spanish: hierba de leche; Other: kaliko (Hawai‘i); te tarai (Kiribati) | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
Euphorbia peplus | English: petty spurge | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
Fallopia convolvulus | English: black bindweed, wild buckwheat | Polygonaceae | herb |
Fleurya interrupta | 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 |
Foeniculum vulgare | 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 |
Galinsoga parviflora | English: gallant soldier, small-flower galinsoga, yellow weed | Asteraceae | herb |
Gamochaeta pensylvanica | English: Pennsylvania cudweed | Asteraceae | herb |
Gamochaeta purpurea | English: purple cudweed | Asteraceae | herb |
Gloriosa superba | English: climbing-lily, creeping-lily, flame-lily, glory-lily, gloriosa lily; Other: riri vavai-moa (Cook Islands ('Atiu)) | Liliaceae | herb |
Glycine tabacina | Fabaceae | herb | |
Gomphrena celosioides | English: gomphrena weed | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Gomphrena serrata | English: gamphrena (Guam) | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Helianthus argophyllus | English: silverleaf sunflower; Other: siola'a (Samoa) | Asteraceae | herb |
Heterocentron subtriplinervium | English: pearl flower | Melastomataceae | herb |
Hypochoeris glabra | English: smooth cats-ear | Asteraceae | herb |
Indigofera hirsuta | English: hairy indigo, rough hairy indigo | Fabaceae | shrub |
Indigofera linifolia | Fabaceae | herb | |
Indigofera spicata | English: creeping indigo | Fabaceae | herb |
Ipomoea alba | English: moonflower; Other: alaihai-tasi (Guam-Chamorro); koali pehu (Hawai‘i), fue sina, fue to (Samoa) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Ipomoea cairica | English: Cairo morning glory, coastal morning glory, ivy-leaved morning glory, railroad-creeper; Other: koali ‘ai, koali, koali ‘ai‘ai (Ni‘ihau), koali lau manamana, kowali, pa‘ali (Hawai‘i), sefifi sea (Niue) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Ipomoea obscura | Convolvulaceae | vine | |
Ipomoea ochracea | Convolvulaceae | vine | |
Ipomoea purpurea | English: common morning-glory, tall morning-glory | Convolvulaceae | herb |
Ischaemum indicum | English: batiki blue grass (Fiji), mbatiki blue grass (Fiji), mbalanga grass (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Justicia betonica | English: white shrimp plant, squirrel's tail | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Justicia procumbens | Acanthaceae | herb | |
English: African mahogany, Senegal mahogany | Meliaceae | tree | |
Kyllinga melanosperma | Cyperaceae | sedge | |
Leontodon taraxacoides | English: rough hawkbit | Asteraceae | herb |
Lepidium ruderale | English: peppergrass | Brassicaceae | herb |
Lepidium sativum | English: garden cress; French: cresson alénois; Spanish: berro de huerta | Brassicaceae | herb |
Limonia acidissima | English: elephant-apple, Indian wood-apple, wood-apple | Rutaceae | tree |
Lindernia nummulariifolia | Scrophulariaceae | herb | |
Lobelia zeylanica | English: white root; Other: vononiwai (Fiji) | Campanulaceae | herb |
Lygodium palmatum | English: Hartford fern, American climbing fern, creeping fern, Windsor fern | Schizaeaceae | fern |
Malvastrum coromandelianum | English: false mallow, prickly malvastrum; Other: purūmu (Cook Islands); te‘ehosi, te‘ehoosi (Tonga) | Malvaceae | herb |
Marrubium vulgare | English: common horehound, horehound, white horehound; French: marrube blanc, marrube vulgaire; Spanish: marrubio común | Lamiaceae | herb |
Martynia annua | English: devil's claw, iceplant, small-fruit devil's claw, tiger's-claw; French: Tête de mort | Martyniaceae | herb |
Medicago lupulina | English: black medic, hop-clover, nonesuch, yellow trefoil; French: lupuline, minette dorée; Spanish: mielga azafranada | Fabaceae | herb |
Medicago polymorpha | English: burr medic, California bur-clover, hairy medic, toothed bur-clover, toothed medic; French: luzerne hérissée; Spanish: carretón de amores, trébol de carretilla | Fabaceae | herb |
Melochia corchorifolia | Other: bundaya, bundahia, bundava (Fiji) | Sterculiaceae | herb |
Merremia bracteata | Other: ambui (Solomon Islands) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Merremia hirta | Convolvulaceae | vine | |
Merremia pacifica | Other: veliyawa (Fiji) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Merremia umbellata | English: yellow wood rose; Other: sovivi (Fiji) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Mikania scandens | English: climbing hempweed, climbing hempvine | Asteraceae | vine |
Monochoria hastata | English: arrow-leaf monochoria, hastate-leaf pondweed, monochoria | Pontederiaceae | aquatic herb |
Monochoria vaginalis | English: cordate monochoria, oval-leaf monochoria, oval-leaf-pondweed, pickerel weed; Other: mbekambekairanga (Fiji) | Pontederiaceae | aquatic herb |
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 |
Nicandra physalodes | English: apple of Peru, shooflyplant; French: nicandra; Spanish: capulí cimarró | Solanaceae | herb |
Oldenlandia pumila | Rubiaceae | herb | |
Opuntia dillenii | English: dildo, Eltham indian fig, sweet prickly-pear | Cactaceae | cactus |
Opuntia stricta | English: erect prickly-pear, southern spineless cactus | Cactaceae | cactus |
Ottelia ovalifolia | English: swamp lily (Australia) | Hydrocharitaceae | aquatic herb |
Oxalis debilis | English: pink wood-sorrel, lilac oxalis; Other: ‘ihi pehu (Hawai‘i), ‘ii (Samoa) | Oxalidaceae | herb |
English: Australian millet, umbrella grass | Poaceae | grass | |
English: bitterweed, carrot grass, false ragweed, feverfew, parthenium weed, ragweed parthenium, whitetop, Santa Maria | Asteraceae | 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 | |
Paspalum fimbriatum | English: fimbriate paspalum, winged paspalum, Panama paspalum, Panama crowngrass, Columbia grass | Poaceae | grass |
Paspalum setaceum | Poaceae | grass | |
Passiflora subpeltata | English: white passionflower; Spanish: granadina | Passifloraceae | vine |
Pennisetum glaucum | English: bajra, bulrush millet, burr bristle grass, cat’s tail grass, cattail millet, mongoose tail grass (Fiji), pearl millet, yellow bristle grass, yellow foxtail; French: millet à chandelles, millet perle; Spanish: mijo negro | Poaceae | grass |
Persicaria glabra | Other: kāmole (Hawai‘i) | Polygonaceae | |
Phyllanthus tenellus | English: long-stalk phyllanthus, Mascarene Island leaf-flower | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
Phyllanthus virgatus | English: seed-under-leaf (Samoa); Other: moemoe 'enua? (Cook Islands); tei ni niu (Fiji); 'avasa (Samoa) | Euphorbiaceae | 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 |
Plantago debilis | Plantaginaceae | 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 |
Polygonum dichotomum | Polygonaceae | herb | |
Pseudelephantopus spicatus | 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 |
Rhynchosia minima | English: rhynchosia; Other: pine likku, pine Liku (Niue) | Fabaceae | herb |
Rottboellia cochinchinensis | English: guinea-fowl grass, itchgrass, Kelly grass, kokoma grass, Raoul grass | Poaceae | grass |
Rumex brownii | English: brown dock, hooked dock, slender dock, swamp dock | Polygonaceae | herb |
Rumex crispus | English: curled dock, curly dock, sour dock, yellow dock | Polygonaceae | herb |
Rumex pulcher | English: fiddle dock | Polygonaceae | herb |
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 |
Senecio quadridentatus | English: cotton fireweed | Asteraceae | herb |
Senna bicapsularis | English: Christmasbush, moneybush, rambling cassia | Fabaceae | shrub |
Senna hirsuta | English: stinking cassia (Fiji) | Fabaceae | shrub |
Senna multiglandulosa | Fabaceae | shrub | |
Senna sophera | Other: matui (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Setaria barbata | English: bristly foxtail grass | Poaceae | grass |
Setaria italica | English: foxtail millet, German millet, Hungarian millet, Italian millet; French: millet d'Italie, millet des oiseaux, petit mil, sétaire-d'Italie; Spanish: mijo de Italia, mijo menor, moha, panizo | Poaceae | grass |
Setaria parviflora | English: knotroot bristle grass, knotroot foxtail, perennial foxtail, slender pigeon grass, yellow foxtail; Other: mau‘u Kaleponi (Hawai‘i) | Poaceae | grass |
Sida cordifolia | English: flannelweed, heart-leaf sida | Malvaceae | shrub |
Sida glomerata | Other: mautofu (Samoa) | Malvaceae | shrub |
Sida linifolia | Malvaceae | herb | |
Sidastrum paniculatum | Malvaceae | shrub | |
Sida urens | Malvaceae | shrub | |
Sisymbrium erysimoides | English: smooth mustard | Brassicaceae | herb |
Sisyrinchium micranthum | English: scourweed; Other: wa ma ndrala (Fiji) | Iridaceae | herb |
Solanum mammosum | English: nipple fruit; French: pomme zombi | Solanaceae | shrub |
Soliva anthemifolia | English: dwarf jojo | Asteraceae | herb |
Sonchus arvensis | English: corn sow thistle, field sow thistle, perennial sow thistle | Asteraceae | herb |
Sonchus oleraceus | 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 arundinaceum | English: common wild sorghum, kavirondo sorghum (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Sphenoclea zeylanica | Sphenocleaceae. | herb | |
Sporobolus pyramidatus | Poaceae | grass | |
Stachys arvensis | English: staggerweed | Lamiaceae | herb |
Stapelia gigantea | English: carrion flower, starfish flower, zulu-giant, giant toad plant | Asclepiadaceae | succulent |
Struchium sparganophorum | 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 |
Tephrosia noctiflora | Fabaceae | herb | |
Teucrium vesicarium | Lamiaceae | herb | |
Themeda gigantea | English: ulla | Poaceae | grass |
Themeda quadrivalvis | English: grader grass, habana grass, kangaroo grass; French: herbe kangourou | Poaceae | grass |
English: Spanish moss, old man's beard, grandfather’s whiskers, air plant; French: cheveaux du roi, barbe grise, fille de l'air | Bromeliaceae | bromeliad | |
Trichodesma zeylanicum | English: camel bush | Boraginaceae | herb |
Uraria lagopodioides | Other: lakanikasa, lakanirase, setamoli (Fiji); uluhenga? (Niue); iku‘ipusi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Urochloa glumaris | Poaceae | grass | |
Urochloa humidicola | English: creeping signal grass, koronivia grass | Poaceae | grass |
Verbena bonariensis | English: purpletop, South American vervain, tall verbena; Other: sekara, vunikuta (Fiji), momili vao (Niue) | Verbenaceae | herb |
Verbena litoralis | Other: ōwī, oī (Hawai‘i); ha‘uōwī, ha‘uōwī (Hawai‘i-Ni‘ihau) | Verbenaceae | herb |
Verbena rigida | English: veined verbena | Verbenaceae | herb |
Vicia sativa ssp. nigra | English: black-pod vetch, common vetch, narrow-leaf vetch, spring vetch; Spanish: averijilla | Fabaceae | herb |
Vigna radiata | English: green gram, golden gram, mung, mung bean | Fabaceae | herb |
Waltheria indica | Other: ‘uhaloa, ‘ala‘ala pū loa, hal ‘uhaloa, hi‘aloa, kanakaloa (Hawai‘i) | Sterculiaceae | shrub |
Xanthium strumarium | English: Australian burr (Cook Islands), California-bur, cocklebur, noogoora burr; Other: ovuka, nggatima ni vavalangi, qatima ni vavalagi (Fiji), kikania (Hawai‘i) | 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: Swarbrick (1997), Waterhouse (1997) and Whistler (1988)
Table 2. Other invasive plant species seen or reported to be present in Palau
Scientific Name |
Common Names |
Family |
Habit |
Acalypha indica | English: copperleaf, Indian-nettle, ricinela; Other: hierba del cancer (Guam-Chamorro) | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
Acalypha lanceolata | Other: puapua (Cook Islands (Miti'aro)); ongo ongo (Niue); ogo ogo (Samoa); hongohongo (Tonga | Euphorbiaceae | 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 |
Alysicarpus vaginalis | English: alyce-clover, buffalo-clover, one-leaf-clover; French: alysicarpus; Spanish: maní cimarrón | Fabaceae | herb |
Amaranthus dubius | English: amaranth, spleen amaranth; French: brède de Malabar; Spanish: bledo, bledos malezas, pira; Other: toyala (Fiji); te uekeueke (Kiribati) | Amaranthaceae | 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 | |
†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 |
Argemone mexicana | English: Mexican prickly-poppy, Mexican poppy, prickly poppy, yellow thistle; French: argémone du Mexique; Spanish: adormidera espinosa, cardo santo, chicalote | Papaveraceae | herb |
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 |
Averrhoa bilimbi | English: bilimbi, cucumber tree, tree cucumber, tree sorrel; French: zibeline; Spanish: bilimbí, grosella China; Other: pikue (Guam-Chamorro) | Oxalidaceae | tree |
English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass | |
‡Bacopa procumbens | Scrophulariaceae | herb | |
Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum | English: bedding begonia, perpetual begonia, wax begonia; French: bégonia semperflorens; Spanish: perpetua | Begoniaceae | herb |
Bidens alba | English: beggar’s tick, Spanish needle, cobbler's pegs, romerillo; Other: ki, ki nehe, ki pipili, nehe (Hawai‘i) | Asteraceae | 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 |
Bixa orellana | 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 |
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 |
Breynia disticha | English: snowbush, snowbush breynia, sweetpea bush, foliage-flower; Other: maemae (Cook Islands (Miti‘aro)) | Euphorbiaceae | shrub |
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 |
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 |
Celosia argentea | English: cockscomb; repe moa (French Polynesia); esechilamalk (Palau) | Amaranthaceae | herb |
Centratherum punctatum | Asteraceae | 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 |
Chamaesyce thymifolia | English: red caustic creeper, thyme-leafed spurge | Euphorbiaceae | herb |
†Cleome gynandra | English: African spider-flower, bastard-mustard, cat's-whiskers, spider wisp, wild spider flower; French: feuilles caya, mozambé; Spanish: acaya, mouzambi, volatí; Other: honohina, ‘ili‘ohu (Hawai‘i) | Capparaceae | herb |
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 |
Cosmos caudatus | English: cosmos | Asteraceae | herb |
Crassocephalum crepidoides | English: thickhead, fireweed, redflower ragleaf; Other: fua lele, pualele (American Samoa and Samoa); maraburubo (Solomon Islands); fisi puna (Tonga); se vuka (Fiji) | Asteraceae | herb |
Crotalaria incana | English: fuzzy rattlepod, woolly rattlepod; Other: kūkaehoki, kolomona (Hawai‘i); kuroteraria (Palau) | Fabaceae | shrub |
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 |
Crotalaria spectabilis | English: rattlebox, showy crotalaria, showy rattlebox, showy rattlepod; French: crotalaire remarquable; Other: kolomona (Hawai‘i); ha'apai (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Crotalaria trichotoma | English: curara-pea; Spanish: cascabel vivaz | Fabaceae | herb |
†Cyperus compressus | English: flat sedge; Other: pakopako (Tonga) | Cyperaceae | sedge |
†Cyperus difformis | English: dirty-Dora, one-arm sedge, rice sedge, small-flower umbrella-plant, variable flat sedge | Cyperaceae | sedge |
†Cyperus distans | English: slender cyperus | Cyperaceae | sedge |
Dactyloctenium aegyptium | English: beach wiregrass, button grass, coast button grass, comb fringe grass, crowfoot grass, duck grass, finger comb grass | Poaceae | grass |
Datura metel | 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 |
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 |
†Desmodium gangeticum | 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 triflorum | English: creeping tick trefoil, three-flower beggarweed, tropical trefoil; Spanish: hierba cuartillo; Other: olmud (Palau); konikoni, vakathengu (Fiji); kihikihi (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
†‡Digitaria bicornis | English: southern crabgrass | 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 |
English: duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other: ‘olive (Tonga) | Verbenaceae | shrub | |
Echinochloa colona | 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 | |
†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 |
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 |
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 |
English: episcia, flame violet | Gesneriaceae | 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 |
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 | |
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 |
Heliotropium procumbens | Boraginaceae | herb | |
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 |
Impatiens walleriana | English: garden impatiens, balsam, busy lizzy, bizzy-lizzie, patient lucy; sultan’s flower, Japanese balsam (Fiji) | Balsaminaceae | succulent |
Imperata conferta | English: plume grass; Other: ngi (Fiji) | Poaceae | grass |
Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa | English: bush morning glory, tree ipomoea | Convolvulaceae | shrub |
Ipomoea quamoclit | English: Cupid's flower, cypress vine, cypressvine morning-glory, star of Bethlehem, star-glory, sweet-willy; French: cheveux de Venus, liane rouge; Spanish: regadero; Other: cabello del angel (Guam--Chamorro); asangao (Palau) | Convolvulaceae | vine |
Ipomoea triloba | English: Aiea morning-glory, little bell; Other: fofgu-sabana (Guam-Chamorro); orech, torech (Palau) | 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 |
Lepidium virginicum | English: peppergrass, Virginia peppercress, Virginia pepperweed, wild peppercress; Spanish: cresón (Peru), mancuerno (Peru), escobilla (Venezuela); Other: naunau (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)) | Brassicaceae | herb |
†Leucas lavandulifolia | Other: guma (Fiji) | Lamiaceae | 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 |
Lycopersicon esculentum | English: tomato, wild tomato; French: tomate sauvage (New Caledonia); Spanish: tomate, tomatera; Other: tōmāti (Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti)); tomate (Guam—Chamorro) | Solanaceae | herb |
•Malva parviflora | English: cheeseweed, Egyptian mallow, little mallow, small-flower mallow; French: mauve à petites fleurs, mauve d'Egypte; Spanish: malva | Malvaceae | herb |
Mitracarpus hirtus | English: tropical girdlepod | Rubiaceae | herb |
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 |
Oldenlandia corymbosa | Rubiaceae | herb | |
Opuntia monacanta | English: drooping tree pear, prickly pear; Other: lauaufai va (Samoa) | Cactaceae | cactus |
Orthosiphon aristatus | English: cat’s whiskers; Other: kumi ni pusi (Fiji), chemadecharebub, emadecharebub (Palau), ‘ava pusi (Samoa), kava ‘i pusi (Tonga) | Lamiaceae | herb |
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 |
Peperomia pellucida | Other: potpopot, podpod-lahi (Guam-Chamorro); rtertiil (Palau) | Piperaceae | herb |
Persea americana | 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 |
‡Phaseolus lunatus | English: lima bean, butter bean, Burma bean, haricot bean, Madagascar bean, sieva bean, sugar bean; French: haricot de Lima, haricot du Cap, pois du Cap; Spanish: frijol de luna, haba lima, judía de Lima, pallar; Other: sem (Fiji), piini ‘ae puaka (Tonga) | Fabaceae | herb |
Phyla nodiflora | English: fogfruit, lippia, phyla | Verbenaceae | herb |
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 |
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 |
†Piriqueta racemosa | Turneraceae | 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 |
Pseuderanthemum carruthersii | Other: tiare ‘āpa-mata‘iti (Cook Islands) | Acanthaceae | shrub |
Ruellia tuberosa | English: large bell-flower (Samoa); Other: vaouliuli lautele (Samoa) | Acanthaceae | herb |
Russelia equisetiformis | English: coralplant, fountainplant; French: plante corail; Other: menemene (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)) | Scrophulariaceae | shrub |
Scoparia dulcis | English: scoparia, sweet broom; Spanish: escobilla | Scrophulariaceae | herb |
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 |
Sesbania cannabina | English: canicha, dhaincha, dhunchi, sesbania pea; French: sesbane chanvré | 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 |
Sida spinosa | English: prickly sida, spiny sida | Malvaceae | herb |
‡Sigesbeckia orientalis | 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 |
†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 |
Solanum nigrum | English: black-berry night shade (Australia), black nightshade, poisonberry; French: morelle noire; Spanish: hierba mora; Other: boro ni veiwere, malahome, boro ni yaloki ni gata (Fiji); polokai (Niue, Tonga); magalo, polo (Samoa) | 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 | |
†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 |
†‡Spermacoce ernstii | Rubiaceae | herb | |
Spermacoce latifolia | Rubiaceae | herb | |
Spermacoce mauritiana | Rubiaceae | herb | |
Spermacoce ocymoides | English: purple-leaved button weed | Rubiaceae | herb |
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 |
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 |
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 |
†Urochloa reptans | English: creeping panic grass, running grass; Spanish: San Juan de Castillo | Poaceae | grass |
Youngia japonica | English: oriental hawksbeard; Other: mosita ni Viti (Fiji) | Asteraceae | herb |
†Reported present by Fosberg et al. (1979)
‡Reported present by Raulerson et al. (1996)
•Reported present by Lorence & Flynn [unpublished checklist] (1998)
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This page revised 7 April 2009