Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Report on invasive plant species in Tonga


Appendix 3

Other invasive plant species, mostly of agricultural concern, reported to be present in Tonga

Scientific Name

Common Names

Family

Habit

Acalypha lanceolata

Other: puapua (Cook Islands (Miti'aro)); ongo ongo (Niue); ogo ogo (Samoa); hongohongo (Tonga

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Achyranthes aspera

English: chaff-flower, devil's horsewhip; prickly chaff-flower; Other: piripiri (Cook Islands); kōpū varu (Cook Islands (‘Atiu, Ma‘uke)); tumu ‘enua (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); sono ivi (Fiji); aerofai (French Polynesia (Tahiti));chichitun, lasogado, lasocata (Guam-Chamorro); talamoa fisi (Niue); louch beluu, louch el beluu (Palau); lautafifi (Samoa); tamatama (Samoa, Tonga)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Acmella uliginosa

Other: mbotembotekoro (Fiji)

Asteraceae

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

Alternanthera sessilis

English: joyweed, sessile joyweed; Other: mata kura (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); geluti (Fiji); okula beluulechad (Palau); fisi‘i‘anoa (Tonga)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Alysicarpus vaginalis

English: alyce-clover, buffalo-clover, one-leaf-clover; French: alysicarpus; Spanish: maní cimarrón

Fabaceae

herb

Amaranthus blitum

English: amaranth, livid amaranth, slender amaranth; French: amarante livide; Spanish: bledo; Other: tupu'a (Tonga)

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 squamosa

English: sugar apple, sweetsop, custard apple, sugar apple; French: annone écailleuse, pomme-canelle; Other: tapotapo (Cook Islands, French Polynesia); tapotapo Māori (Cook Islands); kātara‘apa Māori (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); naponapo Māori (Cook Islands (Aitutaki)); atis, ates (Guam); ngel ra ngebard (Palau), ‘apele papalangi, ‘apele Tonga (Tonga), nameana (Tuvalu)

Annonaceae

tree

Asclepias curassavica

English: bastard ipecac, blood flower, bloodflower milkweed, butterfly weed, false ipecac, milkweed; French: herbe a gendarme, ipéca sauvage; 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

Axonopus compressus

English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other: kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji)

Poaceae

grass

Axonopus fissifolius

English: caratao grass, narrow-leaved carpetgrass

Poaceae

grass

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

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

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

Centella asiatica

English: Asiatic pennywort, Indian pennywort, marsh pennywort, pennyweed, sheep-rot, thankuni; French: écuelle d'eau, fausse violette; Spanish: hierba de clavo, sombrerito; Other: kapukapu (Cook Islands); totondro, totono, tatandra (Fiji); pohe kula (Hawai‘i); tonu (Niue); tono (Niue, Tonga); elisichur, elsichur (Palau); togo (Samoa)

Apiaceae

herb

Chamaesyce hirta

English: asthma plant, garden spurge, pill-bearing spurge, hairy spurge, sneeze weed (Solomon Islands); French: herbe a dysenterie, herbe a verrues; Other: totototo titā (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); ndeniose, ndeniosi, samunggawe, ovuka, ovoku (Fiji); eaea, raau topau (French Polynesia); golondrina (Guam-Chamorro); koko kahiki (Hawai‘i); toto tane (Niue); udall (Palau); la‘au fai moti (Samoa); sakisi (Tonga)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Chamaesyce hypericifolia

English: beach spurge, graceful spurge; Other: ufi tamaiti? (Samoa)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Chamaesyce prostrata

English: creeping splurge, prostrate spurge, red caustic creeper; Other: bodulagas-chaca (Chamorro-Guam); te tarai (Kiribati); toto fifine, toto fefine? (Niue); laulili'i (Samoa); papati (French Polynesia (Society Islands))

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Chamaesyce thymifolia

English: red caustic creeper, thyme-leafed spurge

Euphorbiaceae

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

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

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 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

Conyza sumatrensis

English: broadleaf fleabane, tall fleabane; Other: wavuwavu, tho ni vavalangi, tho ni papalangi, tumbua, thovuka, matakaro (Fiji); pakaka (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

Coronopus didymus

English: bittercress, swinecress, wart cress; Other: lesivao (Tonga)

Brassicaceae

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 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 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 spectabilis

English: rattlebox, showy crotalaria, showy rattlebox, showy rattlepod; French: crotalaire remarquable; Other: kolomona (Hawai‘i); ha'apai (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

Cuphea carthagenensis

English: Columbian cuphea, Colombian waxweed, tarweed; Other: lasahia, kerisi (Fiji); laau fau moti (Samoa)

Lythraceae

herb

Cyathula prostrata

English: cyathula; Other: mata kura (Cook Islands (Miti'aro?); tolomo'unga (Tonga)

Amaranthaceae

herb

Cyclospermum leptophyllum

English: fir-leaved celery, marsh parsley, slender celery

Apiaceae

herb

Cyperus compressus

English: flat sedge; Other: pakopako (Tonga)

Cyperaceae

sedge

Cyperus cyperinus

English: long-headed sedge; Other: mue mue, mou upo tutu (French Polynesia)

Cyperaceae

sedge

Cyperus cyperoides

Other: pako (Niue); tuise (Samoa); pako pako (Tonga)

Cyperaceae

sedge

Cyperus gracilis

English: McCoy grass, slender sedge, whisker grass, whisker sedge; Other: mau‘u hunehune (Hawai‘i)

Cyperaceae

sedge

Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum

English: long-leaf cyrtococcum grass; Other: thovatu, osalasala (Fiji)

Poaceae

grass

Dactyloctenium aegyptium

English: beach wiregrass, button grass, coast button grass, comb fringe grass, crowfoot grass, duck grass, finger comb grass

Poaceae

grass

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

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 heterophyllum

English: hetero, Spanish clover; Other: senivakathengu, wakutu (Fiji)

Fabaceae

herb

Desmodium incanum

English: kaimi clover, Spanish clover; Other: ngātoro (Cook Islands (Ma‘uke)); ka‘imi (Hawai‘i)

Fabaceae

shrub

Desmodium scorpiurus

Fabaceae

herb

Desmodium triflorum

English: creeping tick trefoil, three-flower beggarweed, tropical trefoil; Spanish: hierba cuartillo; Other: olmud (Palau); konikoni, vakathengu (Fiji); kihikihi (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

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 fuscescens

English Y grass; Other: creeping kūkaepua‘a (Hawai‘i)

Poaceae

grass

Digitaria sanguinalis

English: crab finger grass, hairy crabgrass, large crabgrass, manne terrestre, panic sanguin, summer grass; Spanish: garrachuelo

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

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

Eleutheranthera ruderalis

Other: pakaka (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

Emilia sonchifolia

English: Cupid's shaving-brush, emilia, Flora's paint brush, purple sow thistle, sow thistle; French: émilie; Other: pupu lele (Niue); pualele (Niue, Samoa); fua lele, fua lele lili‘i (Samoa); longlongo‘uha (Tonga))

Asteraceae

herb

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 tenuifolia

English: elastic grass, love grass

Poaceae

grass

Erechtites valerianifolia

English: Brazilian fireweed, fireweed, fireweed daisy, Ceylon thistle; Other: co vuka, thovuka (Fiji); fua lele, pua lele (Samoa); fisi puna (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

Eriochloa procera

Poaceae

grass

Euphorbia cyathophora

English: dwarf poinsettia, fire-on-the-mountain, Mexican fire plant, painted spurge, wild poinsettia; Other: te kabekan (Kiribati); deriba (Nauru)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Euphorbia peplus

English: petty spurge

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Fimbristylis autumnalis

English: slender fimbristylis

Cyperaceae

sedge

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

Gamochaeta purpurea

English: purple cudweed

Asteraceae

herb

Glycine tabacina

Fabaceae

herb

Helianthus argophyllus

English: silverleaf sunflower; Other: siola'a (Samoa)

Asteraceae

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

Imperata conferta

English: plume grass; Other: ngi (Fiji)

Poaceae

grass

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

Lepidium virginicum

English: peppergrass, Virginia peppercress, Virginia pepperweed, wild peppercress; Spanish: cresón (Peru), mancuerno (Peru), escobilla (Venezuela); Other: naunau (Cook Islands (Aitutaki))

Brassicaceae

herb

Lindernia antipoda

Other: ilemelakel (Palau)

Scrophulariaceae

herb

Lindernia crustacea

Other: moomai pere, haehaa, mataura (French Polynesia); ilemelakel (Palau)

Scrophulariaceae

herb

Ludwigia octovalvis

English: willow primrose, false primrose, yellow willow herb; French: faux primerose; Other: tiēmu (Cook Islands); pītōrea (Cook Islands (Ngaputoru and Mangaia), French Polynesia (leeward Society Islands); kāmole, alohalua, kāmole lau li‘i, kāmole lau nui (Hawai‘i); te mam (Kiribati); erur (Palau); laavai, mautofu vao, fua samasama (Samoa)

Onagraceae

herb

Luffa aegyptiaca

English: dishrag gourd, loofah, rag gourd, smooth loofah, sponge gourd, vegetable sponge; French: courge torchon, pétole; Spanish: estropajo, paste; Other: pō‘ue (Cook Islands); mafai (Tonga)

Cucurbitaceae

vine

Malvastrum coromandelianum

English: false mallow, prickly malvastrum; Other: purūmu (Cook Islands); te‘ehosi, te‘ehoosi (Tonga)

Malvaceae

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

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 pumila

Rubiaceae

herb

Oplismenus hirtellus

English: basket grass, woods grass; Other: honohono kukui, honohono, honohono maoli (Hawai‘i)

Poaceae

grass

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 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

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

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

Persicaria glabra

Other: kāmole (Hawai‘i)

Polygonaceae

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

Phyllanthus amarus

Other: moemoe (Cook Islands); moemoe uouo (French Polynesia); maigo-lalo (Guam-Chamorro); te kaimatu (Kiribati); ukalla ruchel (Palau)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Phyllanthus virgatus

English: seed-under-leaf (Samoa); Other: moemoe 'enua? (Cook Islands); tei ni niu (Fiji); 'avasa (Samoa)

Euphorbiaceae

herb

Physalis angulata

English: annual ground cherry, bladder cherry (Solomon Islands), wild cape gooseberry (Fiji); Other: tūpera tāmaru-ariki (Cook Islands (Mangaia)); kospeli, mbotembote yandra, mburasu, mborosousou, mborosousou ni vavalangi, mokoai, thevuthevu (Fiji); tamanufairi, tamaru ha‘ari (French Polynesia); tomate chaca (Guam-Chamorro); te baraki (Kiribati); watomo (Nauru); manini (Niue); bubeubedul (Palau); vivao (Samoa); polopa (Tonga)

Solanaceae

herb

Physalis peruviana

English: Cape gooseberry, goldenberry, gooseberry-tomato, Peruvian ground-cherry, Peruvian-cherry; French: capuli, coqueret du Peru, groseiller du cap; Spanish: alquequenje, capulí, uvilla (Ecuador); Other: tūpera (Cook Islands); botebote yadra, mbotembote yandra, kospeli, maulaqua, maulanggua, tukiyadra, tukiyandra (Fiji); tupere (French Polynesia), pohā, pa‘ina (Hawai‘i); manini (Niue); ku‘usi (Tonga)

Solanaceae

shrub

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

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

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

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

Pueraria montana var. lobata

English: kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other: aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna); a‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue‘aepuaka (Tonga); deday (Yap); acha, nepalem

Fabaceae

vine

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

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

Senna sophera

Other: matui (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

Setaria barbata

English: bristly foxtail grass

Poaceae

grass

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 cordifolia

English: flannelweed, heart-leaf sida

Malvaceae

shrub

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

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 mammosum

English: nipple fruit; French: pomme zombi

Solanaceae

shrub

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

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

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

Stachys arvensis

English: staggerweed

Lamiaceae

herb

Stenotaphrum secundatum

English: buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass; French: chiendent de boeuf; Spanish: pasto San Augustín; Other: ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie ‘aki‘aki, mānienie ‘aki‘aki haole, mānienie māhikihiki (Hawai‘i)

Poaceae

grass

Stictocardia tiliifolia

English: stictocardia, crimson morning-glory; Other: abubo (Guam-Chamorro); pilikai (Hawai‘i); tagamimi, palulu (Samoa)

Convolvulaceae

vine

Synedrella nodiflora

English: Cinderella weed (Australia), porter bush, pig grass (Solomon Islands, Vanuatu), synedrella; Spanish: cerbatana; Other: ngaroiarui (Cook Islands (‘Atiu)); saigon (Guam—Chamorro); lau‘oti‘oti, tae‘oti (Samoa); pakaka, pakopako (Tonga)

Asteraceae

herb

Taraxacum officinale

English: common dandelion, dandelion, lion's-tooth; French: dent de lion, pissenlit vulgaire; Spanish: achicoria amarga, amargón, diente de león; Other: laulele, lauhele (Hawai‘i)

Asteraceae

herb

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

Tridax procumbens

English: coat buttons, tridax daisy, wild daisy (Fiji, Guam); Other: tubua leka, voti (Fiji)

Asteraceae

herb

Uraria lagopodioides

Other: lakanikasa, lakanirase, setamoli (Fiji); uluhenga? (Niue); iku‘ipusi (Tonga)

Fabaceae

herb

Urochloa glumaris

Poaceae

grass

Urochloa reptans

English: creeping panic grass, running grass; Spanish: San Juan de Castillo

Poaceae

grass

Vernonia cinerea

English: ironweed, little ironweed, vernonia; Other: vutikaumondro, tho vuka (Fiji); chaguan Santa Maria (Guam--Chamorro); etngeong (Palau); fisi puna (Tonga)

Asteraceae

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

Youngia japonica

English: oriental hawksbeard; Other: mosita ni Viti (Fiji)

Asteraceae

herb

Primary sources:  Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper No. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp. 

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.


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


[Return to Tonga Report] [ Return to PIER homepage ]


This page updated 9 June 2003.