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

Abutilon theophrasti

English: abutilon-hemp, butterprint, buttonweed, China-jute, Indian-mallow, Tientsin-jute, velvetleaf, velvetweed Malvaceae herb

Acacia sinuata

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

Acmella uliginosa

Other: mbotembotekoro (Fiji) Asteraceae herb

Aeschynomene indica

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

Emex spinosa

  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

Khaya senegalensis

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

Panicum decompositum

English: Australian millet, umbrella grass Poaceae grass

Parthenium hysterophorus

English: bitterweed, carrot grass, false ragweed, feverfew, parthenium weed, ragweed parthenium, whitetop, Santa Maria Asteraceae herb

Paspalum dilatatum

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

Tillandsia usneoides

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

Annona muricata

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

Annona reticulata

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

Axonopus compressus

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

Cananga odorata

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

Duranta erecta

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

Elaeis guineensis

English: African oil palm; French: palmier à huile d'Afrique; Other: nū tāmara (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); apwiraiasi (Pohnpei) Arecaceae tree
Eleocharis dulcis English: Chinese water-chestnut, ground-chestnut, waternut; French: châtaigne d'eau; Spanish: cabezas de negrito, nuez china; Other: kuta, sasa, taria (Fiji); uchaga-lane (Guam-Chamorro); kerdikes (Palau); utu utu (Samoa); ngwaro (Solomon Islands) Cyperaceae sedge
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

Episcia cupreata

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

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
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