Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

Report on invasive plant species in Palau

Appendix 6.  Presence of invasive species of environmental concern within Palau

Table 3.   Species of environmental concern present elsewhere in Palau but not on Angaur

Scientific name

Common Names (abridged)

Family

Present on:
Abelmoschus moschatus fautia, musk mallow, musk okra, gongul (Palau) Malvaceae Babeldaob, Peleliu
Acacia confusa Formosa koa, Formosa acacia, ianángi (Palau), yanangi (Palau) Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Acacia farnesiana Ellington curse, klu, sweet acacia Fabaceae Babeldaob
Acacia mangium mangium, brown salwood, black wattle, hickory wattle Fabaceae Babeldaob
Adenanthera pavonina coral bean tree, red sandalwood tree, red bead tree, lopa, bead tree, false wiliwili, telengtúngd (Palau), telentundalel (Palau)) Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Agave sisalana sisal, sisal hemp Agavaceae Babeldaob
Albizia lebbeck siris-tree, rain tree, East Indian walnut, kokko, woman's-tongue tree, ukall ra ngebard (Palau) Fabaceae Koror

Allamanda cathartica

 yellow trumpet vine, golden trumpet, allamanda, brownbud allamanda, golden allamanda, golden cup Apocynaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Alternanthera brasiliana Brazilian joyweed, Joseph’s coat Amaranthaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Ngercheu (Carp Resort)
Antigonon leptopus Mexican creeper, mountain rose, Confederate vine, chain-of-love, hearts on a chain, love-vine, coral bells, coral vine, dilngau (Palau) Polygonaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Arundo donax giant reed, Spanish reed, wild cane Poaceae Koror, Babeldaob,
Asparagus densiflorus asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern Liliaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang
Asystasia gangetica subsp. gangetica Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel Acanthaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Bambusa spp. bamboo, bambuu (Palau), esel (Palau) Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Sonsorol
Barleria lupulina hophead, Philippine violet Acanthaceae Babeldaob
Bauhinia acuminata dwarf white bauhinia Fabaceae Koror
Bauhinia monandra orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon's plume Fabaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Bauhinia purpurea purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree Fabaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Bauhinia variegata orchid tree; mountain ebony Fabaceae Babeldaob
Bryophyllum pinnatum life plant, air plant, resurrection plant, Canterbury bells, cathedral bells, Mexican love plant Crassulaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu, Ngercheu (Carp Resort, Sonsorol
Calamus spp. rattan, bangerenguis ra ngebard (Palau) Arecaceae Babeldaob
Calliandra calothyrsus powderpuff red calliandra Fabaceae Babeldaob
Calliandra haematocephala red powder puff Fabaceae Koror
Calopogonium mucunoides calopo Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Calotropis gigantea calotrope, crown flower, madar Ascelepiadaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Ceiba pentandra kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, kalngebard (Palau), kalngebárd (Palau), kerrekar ngebard (Palau) Bombacaceae Koror, Malakal, Babeldaob, Kayangel

Centrosema pubescens

 centro, butterfly-pea Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Babeldaob
Chamaecrista mimosoides Japanese tea Fabaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Chamaecrista nictitans partridge pea, Japanese tea senna Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Babeldaob
Chloris radiata plush-grass, radiate fingergrass Poaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Chrysopogon aciculatus Mackie's pest, lovegrass, seed grass, golden beardgrass, iul (Palau) Poaceae Koror, Babeldaob, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
Cinnamomum verum cinnamon tree Lauraceae

Reported present by Fosberg et al.(1979), no location given

Clidemia hirta

 Koster’s curse, soap bush, kui (Palau), kúi (Palau) Melastomataceae Malakal, Babeldaob
Clitoria ternatea butterfly pea, Asian pigeonwings, kles (Palau) Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Coffea arabica coffee, kohi (Palau) Rubiaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Commelina diffusa commelina, dayflower, wandering Jew, spiderwort Commelinaceae Koror, Malakal, Babeldaob
Crotalaria micans crotalaria Fabaceae Babeldaob
Cryptostegia madagascariensis Madagascar rubbervine Asclepiadaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Cyperus involucratus umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass, deus (Palau) Cyperaceae Koror
Derris elliptica derris Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Desmanthus virgatus slender mimosa, virgate mimosa Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerekbesang, Babeldaob
Desmodium tortuosum Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil Fabaceae Koror
Dieffenbachia seguine dieffenbachia, dumb cane Araceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Digitaria violascens smooth crabgrass, violet crabgrass, sau (Palau) Poaceae Babeldaob
Dissotis rotundifolia dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady Melastomataceae Koror
Eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth, bung el ralm (Palau) Pontederiaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Elaeocarpus angustifolius blue fig, blue marble tree, quandong (Australia) Elaeocarpaceae

Reported present by Fosberg et al.(1979), no location given

Epipremnum pinnatum cv. 'Aureum'

 pothos, money plant Araceae Koror (cult.), Malakal, Ngerkebesang
Falcataria moluccana Molucca albizia, ukall ra ngebard (Palau) Fabaceae Koror
Ficus elastica India rubber tree, rubber plant, komunokí (Palau) Moraceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang
Flemingia macrophylla Fabaceae Koror, Babeldaob,
Flemingia strobilifera luck plant, wild hops, besungelaiei (Palau) Fabaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang
Gliricidia sepium mother of cacao, quickstick, Mexican lilac, rechesengel (Palau) Fabaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Tobi
Gmelina ellilptica kalngebard ra belau (Palau) Lamiaceae Malakal, Babeldaob
Hedychium coronarium white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower Zingiberaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang (cult.)
Heliconia spp. heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw Heliconiaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang
Hemigraphis alternata metal leaf; red ivy Acanthaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang
Hevea brasiliensis hevea, Brazilian rubber tree, Para rubber tree Euphorbiaceae Koror?, Babeldaob?
Hyptis capitata knobweed Lamiaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang
Imperata cylindrica blady grass, cogon grass, satintail, kasoring (Palau) Poaceae Babeldaob
Inga edulis ice cream bean Fabaceae Koror
Ipomoea hederifolia ivy-leaf morning glory, star ipomoea, trompillo Convolvulaceae Babeldaob
Ischaemum polystachyum paddle grass Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Aulupse‘el
Ischaemum rugosum muraina grass, wrinkle duck-beak, saramatta grass Poaceae Babeldaob
Ischaemum timorense centipede grass, stalkleaf murainagrass, lucuntu grass Poaceae Babeldaob, Peleliu
Jacaranda mimosifolia jacaranda Bignoniaceae Koror
Jatropha curcas physic nut, purging nut, Barbados nut Euphorbiaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Jatropha gossypiifolia bellyache bush, cotton-leaved physic nut Euphorbiaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang
Kyllinga brevifolia green kyllinga, green water sedge, esechesiding (Palau) Cyperaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Kyllinga nemoralis white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge Cyperaceae Koror, Babeldaob, Sonsorol
Leonurus japonicus lion’s tail, Chinese motherwort Lamiaceae Koror

Macroptilium atropurpureum

 siratro, purple bushbean Fabaceae Babeldaob
Macroptilium lathyroides cow pea, phasey bean, wild bean Fabaceae Babeldaob
Melaleuca quinquenervia melaleuca, cajeput, paper bark tree, punk tree Myrtaceae Babeldaob
Melia azedarach Chinaberry, pride-of-India, indian lilac, Persian lilac, white cedar, margosa tree Meliaceae Koror
Melinis minutiflora melinis, molasses grass Poaceae Babeldaob
Merremia peltata merremia, kebeas (Palau) Convolvulaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Kayangel
Mikania micrantha mile-a-minute weed, Chinese creeper, American rope, bittervine, teb el yas (Palau) Asteraceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Murraya paniculata orange jessamine, satin-wood, Chinese box, Hawaiian mock orange Rutaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Nymphaea spp. water lily Nymphaeaceae Koror
Ocimum gratissimum wild basil, clove basil, tree basil Lamiaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Tobi

Panicum maximum

 Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss Poaceae Koror

Panicum repens

 torpedo grass, couch panicum, creeping panic Poaceae Koror
Passiflora edulis passion fruit, yellow passion fruit, purple passion fruit, qarandila, purple granadilla, kudamono (Palau) Passifloraceae Koror, Babeldaob
Passiflora quadrangularis granadilla, giant granadilla, kudamono (Palau) Passifloraceae Koror, Babeldaob
Passiflora suberosa wild passionfruit, devil's pumpkin, indigo berry, corky passionflower, corkstem passionflower Passifloraceae Malakal, Koror
Pennisetum polystachion mission grass, feathery pennisetum, desum (Palau) Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Pennisetum purpureum elephant grass, napier grass, merker grass, bokso (Palau) Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Pennisetum setaceum fountain grass Poaceae Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob,
Pithecellobium dulce Madras thorn, Manila tamarind, sweet inga, kamatsiri (Palau), kamatsíri (Palau), opiuma (Palau) Fabaceae Koror
Plectranthus amboinicus Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, Cuban oregano Lamiaceae Koror
Pluchea carolinensis sour bush Asteraceae Peleliu
Psidium cattleianum strawberry guava, cherry guava, Cattley guava, Chinese guava Myrtaceae Koror
Quisqualis indica Rangoon creeper Combretaceae Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Saccharum spontaneum wild cane, false sugarcane, banga ruchel (Palau) Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Sacciolepis indica glenwood grass Poaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Samanea saman elderberry, Mexican elder Caprifoliaceae Koror
Sanchezia parvibracteata sanchezia Acanthaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Sansevieria trifasciata bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue, kitelel (Palau) Agavaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu, Ngercheu (Carp Resort, Tobi
Schefflera actinophylla octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm Araliaceae Koror (eradicated?)
Schefflera arboricola dwarf brassia, dwarf schefflera, Hawaiian elf schefflera Araliaceae Koror
Senna alata candle bush; candelabra bush, Roman candle tree, emperor's candlesticks, ringworm bush (Australia), alcapulco Fabaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang (cult.)
Senna obtusifolia habucha, coffeeweed, sicklepod Fabaceae Koror, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Senna siamea cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia, pheasantwood, Thailand shower Fabaceae Babeldaob
Sesbania grandiflora sesbania, hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree, corkwood tree, katurai (Palau) Fabaceae Koror, Malakal, Babeldaob
Setaria pumila foxtail, garden bristle grass, hairy-tail grass, yellow bristlegrass, Queensland pigeon grass (Australia) Poaceae Babeldaob
Solanum torvum prickly solanum, devil's fig, turkeyberry, terongan Solanaceae Babeldaob
Sorghum halepense Johnson grass, Aleppo grass, Aleppo milletgrass Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Spathodea campanulata African tulip tree, fireball, fountain tree, orsachel kui (Palau) Bignoniaceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Stylosanthes guianensis stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo Fabaceae Babeldaob
Syzygium cumini Java plum; jambolan plum, mesegerak (Palau), mesekerrak (Palau), mesekerrák (Palau), mesigerak (Palau) Myrtaceae Koror, Babeldaob, Aulupse‘el
Syzygium jambos malabar plum, rose apple, Malay apple Myrtaceae Koror, Babeldaob
Tabebuia heterophylla pink tecoma, pink trumpet tree, white cedar Bignoniaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Tephrosia candida white tephrosia, white hoary-pea Fabaceae Babeldaob
Thevetia peruviana yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut Apocynaceae Koror, Malakal, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob, Peleliu
Thunbergia grandiflora Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia,: bung el etiu (Palau) Acanthaceae Koror, Babeldaob, Kayangel
Tithonia diversifolia tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower Asteraceae Koror, Babeldaob
Triumfetta rhomboidea Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush Tiliaceae Babeldaob
Turnera subulata white alder Turneraceae Koror, Ngerkebesang, Babeldaob
Urochloa mutica California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass Poaceae Koror, Malakal, Babeldaob
Urochloa subquadripara brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Poaceae Malakal
Vitex parviflora small-leaved vitex, smallflower chastetree) Verbenaceae Reported present by Fosberg et al. (1979) in Malakal (Toirechuil)

Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!

[Return to Palau report] [ Return to PIER homepage ]

This page new 30 April 2003.